The chairman of the council and former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (Retd) made the call while speaking on behalf of the group when it donated food items to the state government at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp at Ox-Bow Lake, Yenagoa.
The Bayelsa State Elders’ Council has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently visit Bayelsa State to personally assess the damage the recent flood has done to lives and livelihoods in the state.
The chairman of the council and former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (Retd) made the call while speaking on behalf of the group when it donated food items to the state government at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp at Ox-Bow Lake, Yenagoa.
Gboribiogha Jonah insisted that in line with the National Disaster Management System, it is the responsibility of the federal agencies to take the lead role rather than leave the state to contend with the flood disaster.
It warned that the already appalling situation might relapse into a humanitarian crisis if the Nigerian government failed to act swiftly.
He said the council was not comfortable with the attitude of some federal agencies which they accused of buck-passing, adding that advising Bayelsans to move to higher grounds was ignorant because there are no high grounds to go to in Bayelsa.
They advised the Nigerian government to rather build flood shelters as it is done elsewhere to provide comfortable accommodation each time flood occurs.
The council was however full of praises for the state governor, Senator Douye Diri for the role he played in the face of the flood disaster. It said the governor’s commitment to the welfare of flood victims has greatly given comfort and hope to residents of the state.
Gboribiogha said that in line with the national disaster management system, it was the responsibility of the Nigerian government to lead the efforts by managing the crisis caused by the unprecedented flood that has taken over the whole state.
He said the Bayelsa State Elders will continue to support the governor in his efforts at mitigating the effects of the flood on residents.
Receiving the relief materials, the Chairman of the Flood Mitigation Task Force and Commissioner for Environment thanked the council for their humanitarian gesture and solidarity with the government and people of Bayelsa State.