Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole has reacted to Governor Nyesom Wike’s order to close all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps presently housing victims of ravaging flood in parts of the state.
Cole in a statement by his campaign organisation, The Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation (TCCO) condemned the sudden directive describing it as anti-people.
Reacting on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the Director-General of the TCCO, Chief Chidi Lloyd, blasted Wike for ordering the immediate closure of the camps instead of visiting the people and providing them much succour. He also added that the actions of the governor would increase the sufferings of the flood victims in the state.
“It is condemnable for Gov. Wike to ignore calls by well-meaning people to visit suffering flood victims in the Orashi and other areas in Rivers State. Instead, the governor has ordered that the IDP camps be closed down even when communities like Odiereke, Akinima and others are still submerged in water with reptiles roaming freely and occupying homes.
“We expect a responsible government to cater for the needs of the flood victims and when the water has completely receded, carry out a comprehensive health audit and possible fumigation before the victims move back to their homes. These our brothers and sisters are likely to face several challenges such as waterborne diseases, rodents and possible snake bites. Even some of their homes may have weakened to the point of collapsing with all the attendant dangers to life.”