By Ignatius Okorocha
A coalition of Civil Society organizations and North East pressure group have condemned the South South Caucus in the House of Representatives and Pan Niger Delta forum ( PANDEF) , over the call on the Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster management, Sadiya Farouq, to resign from office over flood situation in Bayesa state.
The group at a joint press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, said that ” The call by the PANDEF and the South South caucus on the minister to resign was borne out sentiment and sheer mischief as there is no reason for the call for resignation in the first place”
The Northern coalition led by Garus Gololo said that ” Every official comment or statement from any minister from the North is taking out of context to suite their purpose to call for resignation or sack.”
Continuing, Dr. Gololo noted that the statement that is drawing the wrath of the South South group was based on available statistics from all the state affected by the flood.
“The minister’s statement was taken out of context. She said Bayesa is not among the first ten, in terms of the humanitarian crisis, but did not say Bayesa did not need attention”
The coordinator of the group further stated that ” Bayesa state has eight local government, Jigawa with 33 local government areas. In Jigawa, 23 local government areas were submerged. Another state is Yobe state , about 26 local government areas were affected, so if are a Statistician would say Beyesa is worse hit?”
According to him, “since her appointment the Minister has not attached sentiment to management of Disaster and the record is there. There was fire incident in Onitsha, she was there not because the market is own or manage by Northerners. How many Northners own a shop there?, at worse they are selling kolanut and Ciggerates from a koists in Onitsha market”
Dr. Garus, appeal to the leadership of the South-South to avoid inflammatory comments or statement that is capable of causing crisis in the country saying
” The South South region has had its own fair of crisis , so it is wrong to create another crisis in that area, because they have a minister, Timi priye Silva, why are they not telling him to resign, what happened to the 13 percent derivations , the NNDC and minister of Niger Delta?
The resources are mismanaged, yet non has resigned “
According to him ” Lagos, kogi, Kwara , Lagos and Anambra were affected , the minister is working in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA), NEMA was on ground in Bayesa, yet it is not enough because they want to give the innocent woman a bad name” he berated.
