How FG windfall tears flood victims apart in Imo

Though the disaster has come and gone, but the pains and agonies suffered by the victims have remained despite their effort to forget the past and settle back in their homes for a new life.This is because since the ugly incident, the victims have not known peace, even when palliative measures were provided to cushion […]

Though the disaster has come and gone, but the pains and agonies suffered by the victims have remained despite their effort to forget the past and settle back in their homes for a new life.
This is because since the ugly incident, the victims have not known peace, even when palliative measures were provided to cushion the effect; it has remained a bad experience that would not easily go away because of the loss suffered by the people.
While some victims struggle to forget and settle down, more issues that could trigger tension continue to rear their ugly heads.
Presently, there are ripples surging high among the entire people of the communities arising from the disbursement of N75 million to the disaster victims in the two council areas of Imo State as part of the N400 million federal government intervention fund meant to assist in the rehabilitation of those affected in the area.
The federal government released what could be termed a windfall to flood victims in all the affected states across the federation basically to assist them adjust to a new life imposed by the disaster.
Imo, as one the affected states received the sum of N400 million to be shared among the victims in four categories based on the effect of the disaster to individuals and communities.
The chief of staff to the governor, Sir. Jude Ejiogu, who represented Governor Rochas Okorocha while disbursing the fund to the representatives of the 23 affected communities in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs, said those in category A will receive N5m each while those in categories B,C,D would be entitled to N3m, N2m and N1m. While Prince Henry Okafor MD.ISOPADEC received the cheque for Osomotor community, Gedion Meffor got that of Ohaji/Egbema, respectively.
 The money is purely exclusive of the earlier donations and food items from state governments, agencies, senators, ministers, members of the House of Representatives and other individuals, to the victims to assist them.
The current tussle over the disbursement among the communities has created further confusion as the people are unsure of what was disbursed and who the beneficiaries are. The problem from the way it is going would end up tearing the communities apart if nothing is done urgently to douse the tension.
 It is indeed a big problem as it is adding to the difficulties of settling down the victims most of whom are still living outside their original homes and may continue to remain there since they cannot rehabilitate their homes. However, few who have something with which make ends meet are gradually settling down.
A visit by Daily Trust to see some of the flood victims in the two affected areas in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGA showed that many houses are still deserted by their owners due to lack of resources to repair them. Today the victims, apart from not settling down formally, are crying of hunger due to lack of food which has resulted from the washing away of their farm lands and crops.
At Abacheke in Egbema, one of the affected areas, some of the victims interviewed said that they have not received any money from the federal government. A victim, Mr. Austin Okomadu, staff of Saipan Company in Port Harcourt and whose bungalow was submerged said that personally he only saw the sum of N4,000 brought to him by his wife as his own share from the windfall of the federal government.
He said that he had succeeded in renovating his house without waiting for government, adding that if he had relied on government, he would not have a place to live. He said that some of his relations have equally started renovating their houses for their families.
Chief George Dioke of Obidigbo in Abacheke of Egbema-Ohaji/Egbema LGA, expressed surprise on the methodology adopted by the authorities in sharing the money. He said that ordinarily the money ought to have been shared among victims alone but regretted that it went to all members of the community.
He said that Abacheke community made up of 9 villages received N500,000 among other communities in Egbema, adding that considering the level of destruction it suffered the community was expecting a sum of N1.5m from the money. He condemned the way the money was shared among every member of the village rather than to those affected, adding that despite their earlier protest against the sharing formula the people concerned went ahead to share it to all persons in the community.
Another victim, Mr. Francis Udokwu said that he lost valuables worth N1m to the disaster. According to him, since the incident occurred he has lived in a rented house from where he gradually began the renovation of his house. He condemned government plans to build rehabilitation centre for victims with the federal government windfall. He said that the money to be used in building the centre should rather be used to compensate the victims, adding that the amount already shared to them is nothing to write home about.
Mr. Friday Ayah said that he only received N750 as his share and wondered if such amount could enable him renovate his house. He expressed sadness over the situation and described it as unfair treatment to the victims.
Daily Trust discovered from the list of victims presented had about 54 victims in category ‘A’ as those whose houses were under water, while 46 are those whose roofed house has being completed.