Floods: Presidency faults ‘inappropriate’ call for sacking of minister, Farouk

The Presidency, yesterday, described as ‘inappropriate in this climate’, calls from some quarters for the resignation of Sadiya Umar Farouk, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

Farouk has come under intense criticisms following her remarks that Bayelsa, one of the states reeling under floods, was not among the 10 most devastated in the country, contrary to widely held perception in some quarters.

This was as the governor of the state, Diri Douye, recently accused the Federal Government of neglect in its response to the floods, despite Bayelsa being the nation’s cash cow.

Others accused her of being insensitive to the plight of people affected by the flood in the state and in other communities in the south. Reacting via a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency described scenes of flooding from Bayelsa State as “deeply saddening,” just as it commiserated with the victims. “Almost every state in Nigeria has been affected,” it noted.

The Presidency said: “The Federal Government is concerned about what has happened in Bayelsa, as it is with respect to the other states. No life lost is bigger or lesser than that of the others.

“The challenge of bringing succour to the large number of the displaced people in Bayelsa and other states, the restoration of their damaged property and farmlands washed away have clearly overwhelmed disaster management efforts, so far, but that is not to say no efforts are being made.

“The huge need for everything, from foodstuff to tents, blankets and mosquito nets; antimalarial and other drugs clearly indicate that more resources are needed, not only by the disaster management agencies at the centre but also by those at the state and local council levels that are structurally, the first responders.

“The minister has been diligently working to target assistance where it is most needed and plug the gaps in several state governments’ disaster responses.

“The state of Bayelsa has done commendably well but they certainly can do better with increased federal assistance, which is still being delivered batch by batch.

“All these efforts are coming ahead of the report of the committee under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, set up by the President to fashion out solutions and then escalate their conclusions to the Federal Government, to alleviate the plight of people currently being ravaged by flood around the country.”

“Clearly, this is not a time for public reproach. It will only weaken our collective response to the tragedy, and ultimately hinder cooperation that saves lives and delivers emergency aid.

“The government at the centre will continue to do more for Bayelsa and for all states so affected, as more and more resources are made available.”