…promises to cater for the welfare of IDPs
From Ahmed Muhammed Danasabe, Lokoja
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State on Tuesday, visited the Adankolo IDP Camp in Lokoja to sympathise with families and other persons displaced by the flood currently ravaging some parts of the state.
The governor who was accompanied by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu and other top government officials, also used the occasion to distribute relief materials to the flood victims.
Ododo assured them of the government’s commitment to cater for their welfare while in the camp.
The governor thanked the Flood Response Team under the leadership of the Deputy Governor for their untiring efforts at ensuring that residents affected by flood are not left to suffer.
“I have come here to identify with you. It is my responsibility to mobilize government resources to cater for your needs and we shall do whatever we can to ensure we stand by you in this trying period.
“I thank the response team for working tirelessly to cater for the needs of our people here.
“You are my people and I will come to you wherever you are to identify with you, stand by you and cater for your needs,” the Governor said.
Governor Ododo addressed the flood victims at Adankolo camp in Lokoja, the state capital.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, in his response thanked the governor for the visit to the aid of the the victims promptly by providing for their needs.
Atimah said the presence of the governor was a morale booster for the displaced persons.
Kogi State has been ravaged by a devastating flood that has submerged houses and displaced hundreds of people.
One of the displaced persons, Abdul Isah said the governor had shown that he cares about the welfare of the displaced persons.
“My entire family is here as we have lost everything to the flood.
“Governor Ododo has shown he is governor of all by coming here today not only to give us food and other relief materials but to have first-hand information on how we are struggling here.
“For the first time in days, I was able to smile because my Governor is here.
“I voted for him and today, he has proven that our votes were not wasted.
“We need a lot of support as I do not even know where to go from here.
“My house will surely collapse after months of being soaked in this flood,” the victim said.
Nine out of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state are affected by the flood.
The State Government had earlier called on the Federal Government and other international bodies to come to the aid of the affected persons.
