Governor furious as officials, others, short-change flood victims

Udaughan

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udaughan was moved to anger yesterday having noticed that government officials and voluntary organisations have started short-changing flood victims in their camps.

The anger came few hours after the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Christabel Obiuwevbi donated relief materials to the victims, maintaining that they deserve continual support to enable them cope with their trauma.

Obiuwevbi at the state’s Institute of Continuous Education (ICE) Camp, Asaba, stated that it was important to assure victims of the flood that all hope are not lost.

The Governor during a meeting with political appointees, members of the state’s House of Assembly as well as top civil servants in Asaba directed that all public officers found to have embezzled funds meant to assuage the victims trauma should not only be re-deployed but made to refund such or face being sanctioned.

He wondered how public officials could be so heartless to divert money meant for feeding and general upkeep of the flood victims in the camps.

The governor, who described the attitude of some of the officials as unwholesome, callous and inhuman, said the sins of such persons would catch up with them.

He said that instead of some of the officials showing sympathy, they were busy telling lies and stealing funds meant for the flood victims.

Describing the situation as “intolerable”, the Governor warned perpetrators of such dastard act to desist or face the wrath of God. 

He explained that he was pained by reports of the ugly development, he said “How can somebody be so callous and steal from the fund meant for feeding the victims.  It will not be well with them and they will suffer the effect of their fraudulent action.  If they don’t suffer it their children will suffer it.”

While the Governor charged the officials not to see the feeding of flood victims as money-making venture because he was keen on seeing that the displaced persons were properly fed three times a day, he directed the commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka to henceforth announce the amount given to each camp for feeding on a daily basis as this woul check fraudulent activities and enjoined camp commandants to always cross check figures and ensure that what was announced was given to them.

The Governor announced the swearing in of a committee that would plan and manage the  N500 million disbursed to the state by the federal government for the of flood victims, explaining that the fund has not been touched adding that a retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Francis Tabai will be the chairman of the committee while erudite scholar and politician, Prof. Pat Utomi and a cleric, Bishop Goddowell  Awomakpa, among others would be members.

The Compass