The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has donated N5 million to 133 victims of the recent flood disaster in Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area of the state.
Odii, who was represented by the state PDP Chairman, Mr Chukwuma Igwe, made the donation on Thursday during a visit to the affected communities to sympathise with the victims.
Igwe urged the victims to remain hopeful, describing the flood as a natural disaster, and assured them that the problem would be permanently addressed if Odii was elected governor in the 2027 general elections.
He said the donation was intended to assist the victims in cleaning up their homes and premises after the floodwaters receded.
According to him, the party decided to visit the affected communities after receiving reports of the disaster from its members in the area.
“It was after our attention had been drawn to the incident by some of our party officials in the area that we deemed it fit to pay the visit and sympathise with you as humans while you will still be expecting other assistance through intervention funds from both the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), being the government agencies responsible for such situations,” he said.
Igwe also appealed to the residents to support Odii in the 2027 election, promising that his administration would seek a lasting solution to the flooding if elected.
Similarly, the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency, Hon. Felix Ogbonnaya Igboke, said the delegation visited the affected communities as party members and not government officials.
“This incident is quite unfortunate, even though it is avoidable. Whatever we are doing here today, we are doing it as a party, not as the government. Government intervention will be made available to you, but if it fails to come, we shall draw attention to your plight so that both SEMA and NEMA can come to your aid,” Igboke said.
He identified improved drainage systems and the construction of bridges as possible measures to address the recurring flooding and urged residents to support the party in the 2027 elections.
A stakeholder from Ivo Agbaleka village, Mr Uwaezuoke Chukwu, thanked God that no life was lost in the disaster.
He said the flood submerged Afor Market Square and prevented residents of neighbouring communities, including Ihibe, Ndiagbo, Ndiezeoke and Amaeze, from leaving their homes since September 22.
Some victims from Amaegbu village, including Mrs Patience Imor, Nnennaya John and Mr Okoro Chukwu, said they had been forced to squat with relatives and neighbours after floodwaters reportedly collapsed their houses.
The victims attributed the disaster to the overflowing of a major river in the area and appealed to the government to provide temporary shelter and implement a lasting solution to the recurring flooding.
The flood, which reportedly affected more than 60 households and 133 individuals, also destroyed farms, household properties and other sources of livelihood across Akaeze Community.
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