Massive flooding has taken over Otuoke, the hometown of the past Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa State, turning him to an internally displaced person, the state Governor Duoye Diri said.
Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa has been overrun by the massive flooding sweeping across different states of the federation.
Speaking when he visited the community on Friday, October 21, Governor Diri lamented the degree of destruction caused by what he described as an “attack by natural disaster” on the livelihood of Bayelsans.
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He stressed that Otuoke, which is the host community of a Federal University, had been submerged and most of the locals displaced, including Jonathan.
”As we have seen in other local government areas in the state, we have come to Ogbia and parts of Southern Ijaw today. I had been to Ayama-Ijaw and Azikoro community in Yenagoa, which is also badly hit.
”Now, I am in Ogbia, precisely at the residence of the former president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. You can see the degree of destruction here in Otuoke. The water current is as if there is a river here.
”This is what I have been saying. Bayelsa is under attack of natural disaster. The whole premises of our former president and the community is under attack. And this is where you also have the federal university. This situation makes the former president an IDP.
”To our citizens, particularly in Ogbia local government, I came to see things for myself in Otuoke and to bring you hope. I came to also let you know that you are not alone in this trying times that we are all going through in our state.
”We have put in place machinery that is going round the state in terms of relief materials and medicines. The Ministry of Health is fully mobilized for that and I am sure they will be here in no distant time.
”Let me also use this opportunity to empathize with my leader, the former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has joined me as one of the IDPs because I was one of the first victims in my community,” he said.
He also visited the former president’s mother, Madam Eunice Jonathan, in the community and assured her that the state government is with her and the people of Otuoke.
