By DADA AYOKHAI
An array of former Edo state government funtionaries are among those whose residences at Ekperi axis of Etsako central local government were submerged by flood.
The former government functionaries are Hon Lawani Damian, a former Commissioner under the Godwin Obaseki’s administration and presently an House of Assembly candidate of the Obaseki’s faction of the PDP..
Others who suffered similar fate are Hon Donald Boi , a Commissioner under the Adams oshiomole administration and Hon Suleiman Bagudu a former chairman of Etsako central local government.
The flooding of the community is as a result of torrential rain in the last few days that has resulted in the River Niger overflowing its banks.
Many residents of Udaba and the surrounding villages have abandoned their houses with some fled the community due to the rising water level which has gone above the window level of their houses,while those who managed to move around, do so in canoes.
Residents say this year’s flood is worst than that of 2012 , as Churches, mosques, markets, and schools have all been taken over by the flood .
Some of the communities mostly hit are Udaba-Ekperi Anegbette, Ukpeko Orle, Ofukpo, Agbabu, Osomegbe, Udochi, Yelwa, Ake Iand Ifeku Island.
Agricultural produce like rice, cassava, vegetables, potatoes, ground nuts and others have been completely submerged by the devastating floods.
The people are calling on both the Federal, state and local governments to come to their aid to avoid lost of lives due to the devastating effects of the flood.
Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Osasere Evboumwan told journalists that “We were in Etsako Central last Friday; myself, NEMA, SEMA, the Head of Local Government Administration, WHO and others. We are sending our report now to see how we can provide relief for them.
“Their farms have been taken away by water, every year this flood comes and NEMA said the only solution to this is to dredge River Niger otherwise it will continue to occur. For the immediate solution, we are going to be supplying food for them, the IDP centre in Ogomeri is dry and there are facilities there but the people are reluctant to come there. We are preparing the IDP for them, there are mattresses there, there is a generator, the fridge is there, the kitchen is there then we will beef up the medical centre.”
