IBADAN FLOODS: Jonathan pledges help for Ibadan's flood

President Goodluck Jonathan on
Friday promised to assist the Oyo
State Government over the flood
that sacked Ibadan, the state
capital, penultimate Friday.
Jonathan made the pledge when
he paid an on-the-spot
assessment visit to some of the
flood ravaged areas in the city.
The President, who came in
company with some ministers
(Works, Environment and Water
Resources), described what he
saw as a “pitiable view.”
He said technical experts would
be deployed from the ministries
of water resources and the
environment to identify how the
Federal Government could assist
the state to handle the disaster.
The President commended the
Oyo State Government, the
National Emergency Management
Agency and other relevant
organisations that rose to the
challenge and helped the victims
of the flooding.
He described the incident as a
natural disaster and prayed that
God would comfort those that
lost their loved ones and
property.
The President, who called for
one-minute silence in respect of
the dead, said, “On behalf of the
Federal Government and my
family, we express our
condolences to the government
and people of Oyo State over the
disaster.
“We flew over some of the sites,
inspected and saw the extent of
the damage.
“We also watched video clips of
the disaster. It is a natural
disaster. We pray that God will
give those who lost their people
in the flood the fortitude to bear
the loss.
“On the part of the FG, we
commend the director-general
and officers of NEMA and the Oyo
State Government for their quick
response.”
Governor Abiola Ajimobi
appealed to the President to
assist the state, stressing that the
state alone could not shoulder
the responsibility.
The governor noted that no state
in the South-West had witnessed
the magnitude of the August 26
rainfall.
He said the state was helpless
and required FG’s assistance in
addressing the menace. Making a
formal request to the FG, Ajimobi
handed over a letter to Jonathan.
The President’s aircraft, marked
Nigerian Air Force 5N-FGT,
touched down at the Ibadan
Airport, Alakia, at exactly 12:25
pm.
He was received by Ajimobi, his
cabinet members and leaders of
the Action Congress of Nigeria
and the Peoples Democratic
Party.
Also present were Senator Femi
Lanlehin, Minister of State for
Federal Capital Territory, Mrs.
Jumoke Akinjide; Speaker, Oyo
State House of Assembly, Mrs.
Monsurat Sunmonu and a host of
other political office-holders.