Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, gave N55 million to flood victims in Bayelsa State.
Abubakar said the donation was his way of showing support for the flood victims’ recovery efforts while paying a visit to the Government House in Yenagoa.
He called the disaster depressing and bemoaned how it had affected the state’s residents’ lives and economy. He pleaded with the federal government and other good Samaritans to assist Bayelsa during this trying time.
The former vice president promoted the creation of a separate flood disaster relief fund that will aid victims and a short-term fund for farmers to lessen their losses and give them money for the planting season the following year.
Additionally, he exhorted the Federal Government to provide the necessary infrastructure to store extra water.
He said that, if elected president, he will finish building the dam in Adamawa State and take other necessary steps to prevent flooding in Nigeria from causing as much devastation as it has in the past.
The PDP candidate gave children of late footballer Ernest Peremobowei, who lost in a boat accident after rescuing five other flood victims, scholarships up to the university level.
His said: “My visit to Yenagoa is to have a personal experience of the devastation that victims of flooding have suffered across the country. Climate change is real. The experience in Bayelsa is disheartening. Human lives and public infrastructure have been destroyed.
“People who are likely to survive this flood have lost their livelihood and need every ounce of support they can get. I commiserate with them.
“Permit me to take this sober moment to send my commiserations to (former) President Jonathan for the manner the flood affected him.
“On my part and on behalf of my family, I wish to announce the sum of N50 million and call on my friends in the corporate world to also assist the victims of the flood.”
Senator Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, responded by saying that the former vice president’s display of affection had inspired the people of the state.
Additionally, Diri has given the State Flood Mitigation and Management Task Force an additional N450 million to help the state’s growing number of flood victims.
In the meantime, the Bayelsa flood victims received a truckload of relief supplies from the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), including both food and non-food goods.
Additionally, Dr. Eruani Azibapu, president of the Azikel Group, provided N350 million worth of relief supplies to lessen the victims’ losses, aches, and discomfort in Bayelsa State.
