A former Security Adviser in Bayelsa State, Perekeme Kpodoh, has implored Governor Douye Diri to deploy ecological funds that accrue to the state to help victims of the raging flood disaster in the state.
He described as unacceptable the repeated call by Governor Diri for the Federal Government’s assistance, urging the governor to first show capacity with resources within his disposal.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain, in a statement in Yenagoa, on Thursday, insisted that it was time for Diri to utilise the billions his administration had so far received as ecological funds to mitigate the damage done by the flood and adequately reduce the suffering of the people.
He stated that despite warnings that Bayelsa and some other states would be massively flooded, Diri did not do any anything to prepare the state against the natural disaster.
Kpodoh said, “People should hold Governor Douye Diri responsible and compel him to account for all the money he had received so far as ecological funds. Such money is meant for a time like this. It is not sufficient to be crying foul and seeking external assistance. What have you done with the resources available to you?
“Diri’s intervention was first belated and insufficient. There were warnings that Bayelsa and some other states would be flooded. But the governor went about his business without making provisions to mitigate the floods.
“Nothing was done. All the drains were not cleared. People were not sensitised and prepared to face the disaster. No higher grounds were built. We saw how the Kaduna State Government prepared its citizens before the floods.
“We also saw how the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, immediately set up a task force and released N1bn for only four local government areas affected by the flood. But the Bayelsa State Governor waited until the floods overtook the entire state, killing helpless people, before he released paltry N450m for relief materials”.
The APC stalwart complained that Diri embarrassed Bayelsa, following a viral video of people he sent to distribute relief materials dishing out one cup each of rice, beans and garri to the suffering and traumatised flood victims.
“We saw that video and we were embarrassed. It was unimaginable that an oil-rich state like Bayelsa would deepen the pains of its traumatised citizens in the time of disaster”, he said.
Kpodoh pointed out Diri’s capacity in governance had been tested by the flood disaster but regretted that the governor had failed woefully by playing to the gallery and presenting himself to the world as “a helpless weeping child.”
He said the governor through his alleged poor leadership style bungled a great opportunity presented by the flood to redeem his image and advised him to bury any thought of seeking re-election.
