Lorine EMENIKE
Orashi Youths Movement, a sociopolitical organization in the Orashi region of Rivers State, on Tuesday, put the death toll in the current flooding ravaging the region to nine(9).
The president of the association Mr Chiowkwa Nweze said that half of the region has been submerged by the ravaging flood.
Mr Nweze who disclosed this at Ibeta in Ahoada West Local Government Area during a peaceful protest said the flood has rendered thousands of people homeless, while farming and fishing which are the main occupations of the people have been adversely affected.
According to him, an urgent intervention of the authorities will save the people from further problems, stressing that the protest at the Nigeria Liquidified Natural Gas(NLNG) and other companies operating in the area is for the companies to assist the flood victims.
The youth president also thanked the chairmen of the four local government councils in the Orashi region for the support they gave to those displaced by the incident.
He particularly thanked the chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Hon. Hope Ikiriko for taking proactive steps to help the victims through the provision of camps for the internally displaced persons.
Meanwhile, the Eze Igbu Ubie of Ubie kingdom, in Ahoada West Local Government Area, HRM Eze Augustine Okpokiri said while receiving the youths at his palace that ” it will be morally wrong for the government to play politics with the lives of the people”.
According to him “We did not choose where we live. We were born and inherited this place, whether good or bad. So the lives of the people should not be politicised”.
The royal father also stressed the need for companies operating in the area to rise up to the challenge of assisting the people, stressing that having operated in the region for years, it behoves on them to come to the aid of the people in their moment of need.
Also, a youth from the region, Mr Reuben prince decried the destruction of properties and farmlands by the flood.
Meanwhile, some residents of Okogbo community in Ahoada West Local Government Area also lamented the negative impacts of the flooding in the community.
Mrs Nkechi Oko told our correspondent that she has lost her farm to the flooding. “My crops, my house, my land has been submerged” she lamented.
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