By Steve Ovirih
Okitipupa and suburb communities have encountered massive flooding in the past few days as a result of heavy downpour which has maintained unrestrained flow.
The flooding has, however, caused untold damage to property across Okitipupa Local Government Area and it’s environ.
Reacting to this sad development in an exclusive media chat, Ondo South Senator, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, OON has expressed his empathy for the flood victims who had their apartments flooded creating a huge sense of physical and emotional inconvenience.
“I commiserate with all the flood victims across Okitipupa town. I wish this doesn’t have to happen because the damage this has caused to property is massive.
“We have been treated to visuals of how flood has denied some residents of Okitipupa sleep as the waters had climbed several feet into houses destroying valuable property and cherished personal effects.
“I identify with all the victims at this trying time and I shall pay an on the spot evaluation visit to these places in due course. I want my esteemed constituents in Okitipupa to know that I will not abandon them to face this challenge alone.
“I shall reach out to the appropriate quarters to solicit ecological assistance where necessary and together we shall find succour to alleviate the situation on ground,” Faduyile assured.
The Ondo South Senator called on Ondo State Government and the State Emergency Management Authority to step up its assistance leverage over the flooding phenomenon in Okitipupa, stressing that it is becoming a perennial challenge during the rainy season, hence the need for government to come to the aid of victims.
Faduyile however challenged the people of the affected area to wake up to their safety responsibility by ensuring that drainages and waterways are not blocked,
He added that while the flooding issue can be traced to climate change challenge, it behoves members of the community to avert poor drainage, blocking the drainage system with dirt and debris and building on drainage right of ways.
He maintained that if conscious efforts are not made to prevent the environmental vices, then people are not ready to have safe, sound and peaceful rainy season.
“I understand quite well that the Ondo State Government under the leadership of Gov Lucky Aiyedatiwa is committed to ‘the ease of the citizenry’, so these issues will be taken up at the appropriate quarters to seek a state based solution.
“I have no doubt that the State Emergency Management Authority as well as the Ministry of the Environment are already aware and will be on top of their game already over this development. As your Senator, I shall bring the attention of the Senate to this challenge in my bid to find a Legislative solution and ensure our people get adequate relief,” Faduyile noted.
Asked to comment on the degrading condition of the climate on Aiyetoro, a coastline community of Ilaje, he said that Aiyetoro sea incursion was a peculiar challenge, noting that he has conferred with major Ondo State Stakeholders on his resolve to take the matter up at the Senate plenary.
He stressed that a motion on the need to secure the community from the throaes of ocean submerge is very important as the climate change has adversely affected the once bubbling economically viabe Ilaje community.