Angele Partners State Government, Disburses Cash To Affected Flood Victims In Burutu Local Government
By Binebai Princewill
The Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Godknows Angele yesterday partnered with the Delta State Government to disburse cash to flood affected victims across the Local Government Area.
The Liberator Newspapers observed that the sum of #500,000,00 each was disbursed to all the eleven (11) federal wards constituting Burutu Local Government Area yesterday (Monday)
It would be recalled that an additional #30,000,00 provision was also made available for logistic purposes for onward disbursement of the cash to the flood victims in the various communities through the ward leaders.
In an interview with The Liberator Newspapers during the disbursement of cash at the Sheriff Plaza, Refinery Junction in Uvwie Local Government Area, Chairman of Burutu Local Government Council, Hon. Godknows Angele stated that the council under his watch is complementing the efforts of the state Government financially in reaching out to the flood victims.
Angele stated that by the disbursement arrangement, each ward is getting #500,000,00 each and #30,000,00 logistic, stressing that the council is disbursing the money through the various Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward leaders across the council.
When asked if the money will really get to the affected flood victims in the communities without being diverted, Angele said the ward leaders are all people with proven track records of integrity.
He said there is no doubt about it that the money is going directly to the flood victims in the various communities constituting Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, adding that there are even sub committees at the ward level.
He explained further that while carrying out the directives of the Delta State Government headed by His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the #500,000,00 will be disbursed to 100 (hundred) families per ward across the Local Government.
By this calculation, The Liberator Newspapers can report that about 1100 (One Thousand and one hindered) families have been drafted out to benefit from the gesture.
According to a list obtained from council, signed by Hon. Godknows Angele, the ward leaders drafted out to receive the cash for further disbursement to the various communities include Mr. Progress Dimaro, ward 1; Hon. Fungewei Azami, ward 2, Mr. James Nieketen, ward 3; Hon. Dan Yingi, ward 4; Hon. Gilbert Benefa, ward 5; DCN Arede Edeimene, ward 6; Godwin Edumogiren, ward 7; Barr. Chief Isa Clark 8; Hon Richard Numa, ward 9; Mr. Ignatius Ziakegha, ward 10 as well as Amb. Comr, Shedrack Agediga, ward 11.
However, it was further observed that few of the ward leaders whose names appeared above who was unable to make it rather sent representatives to receive the cash on their behalf.
When quizzed if the council in collaboration with the Delta State Government have any plan to work out modalities to prevent or control the perennial flooding of these communities, Angele said the flood is a natural disaster hence is beyond the capacity of council and even state Government to do anything, stressing that it is more of federal government arrangement that can do something.
The Burutu Local Government Chairman, popularly known as ‘ability’ had called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency begin the process of dredging the River Niger for it to be deep enough to consume the water that is coming from the opening of dams in neighbouring countries resulting to the perennial flooding in most Niger Delta communities.
Hon. Godknows noted that himself and his colleagues have also called on relevant federal agencies in the country to come to their rescue, adding that the entire Local Government has been completely swallowed by the flood.
He continued that a federal team is already on their way to access the negative impact of the flood in the affected Local Government Areas, stressing that the team was at Bomadi hence Burutu Local Government Council will be receiving them within the week.
Speaking in similar manner, the duo of Mr. Fungewei Azami and Pst. Godwin Edumogiren SSAs to the Governor who received the cash on behalf of their various wards in the Local Government particularly praised Governor Okowa for reaching out to the flood victims, adding that posterity will always judge him right.
Azami and Godwin also lauded the prudent management of resources by the council Chairman, Hon. Angele, adding that for adding cash to augment what the state Government brought and his open door policy is no doubt a demonstration of uncommon leadership, maintaining that the people of Burutu are very proud of him.
