The Bible Society of Nigeria BSN) has called on the Federal, Bayelsa and Rivers State Governments to show concern for the victims of the unprecedented heavy floods affecting several areas in Nigeria with a view to ameliorating their plight and checkmating a reoccurrence of the tragedy.
Chairman of the Bible Society of Nigeria Rivers/Bayelsa Area, Omoni Ayo-Tamuno, made the call during the October Management Committee Meeting at the First Baptist Church, Omoku, Headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Ayo-Tamuno, who marvelled at the extent of the flood affecting communities in Rivers and Bayelsa States, described the flood as the worst compared to that of 2012.
Commending the release of N1billion by the Rivers State Government for multifarious interventions for the flood victims, the BSN Chairman called on the Bayelsa State Government to emulate its Rivers State counterpart by taking action to alleviate the suffering of the affected citizens.
He, however, stressed the need for effective monitoring of funds and relief materials sent to victims, saying that in the past such gestures were never sent to the affected people or communities.
The Chairman further stressed the need for sincerity on the part of those in charge of the donated relief materials or funds meant for them, noting that “only honest, God fearing and patriotic Nigerians should be given the task to relate with the victims”.
Ayo-Tamuno expressed his displeasure over a statement credited to a Federal Minister to the effect that the flood had not reached the State to warrant declaring a state of emergency, adding that “is it when all our people are dead or affected communities are completely submerged?”
“Now is the time to act and save our people, tomorrow may be too late”, asserting that when passing through Ahoada to Omoku, “one sees a lot of houses, business premises, church buildings, schools, health institutions, farm land and even the roads and streets completely flooded and people are helpless crying for help.”
Omoni Ayo-Tamuno then appealed to all stakeholders to avoid playing politics with the flood issue, rather “all should come together and find lasting solution to this yearly occurrence that is displacing our people from their ancestral and native homes”.
God bless the the Chairman of Bible Society of Nigeria Rivers / BAYELSA AREA Elder Ayo-Tamuno Omoni for speaking up at such a time like this. God save our nation.