THE GBANRAUN STORY: SOUTHERN IJAW KINGDOM EVACUATES MONARCH TO SAFETY AS FLOOD RAVAGE COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 7- WEEKS.
THE GBANRAUN STORY: SOUTHERN IJAW KINGDOM EVACUATES MONARCH TO SAFETY AS FLOOD RAVAGE COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 7- WEEKS.
The Monarch of Gbanraun Kingdom in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, King Frank Fieke-Okiakpe, The Pere-Agadagba of Gbanraun Kingdom and his Council of Chiefs have appealed to the Federal Government, National Emergency Management Agency( NEMA), Federal Ministries of Environment, Niger Delta Affairs, Petroleum Resources, interventionist agencies such as The Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC), Ecological Funds Office, Oil and Gas multinationals, The Shell Petroleum Development Company ( SPDC) Nigeria Agip Oil Company ( NAOC) as well as the Bayelsa State Government to intervene and safe the Kingdom from eminent extinction occasioned by perennial floding leading to untold hardship, environmental hazards and health challenges as sources of livelihood by the people are also cut- off leaving the traditional farmers and fishermen to leave below poverty line.
The Monarch of the kingdom who spoke to newsmen few days after he was rescued out of the community to safe place due to flood that has submerged his ancient palace described the situation as unimaginable and terryfying.
He blamed the perennial flooding situation on the Operations of SPDC that dug a canal at the back of the community leading to the popular Ogboinbiri flow station ( The Seibo Deep Oil Location) and since then for over 32 years each raining season has become a nightmare to his people in the area as water freely comes from the nearby bushes and not from the River. Not minding the fact that the first phase of the shore protection project for Gbanraun was abandoned even after several appealed had been made to the presidency as well as the federal government.
King Okiakpe further renewed his call on the Federal and State governments, well meaning individuals to intervene and safe the lives and property of the people as already the kingdom has written several protest and appeal letters to many concerned offices without any response.
The Secretary of the Kingdom’s Chiefs- Council, Chief Ebikeseye Bipeledei, Paramount Rulers of Kapabiri-ama,Aguobiri-ama and Egbesubiri-ama, the Community Development Committee ( CDC) Chairman, Engr. Teiwei Tutor-Saturday, Comr. Nimi Oborududu ( Youth President), Chief Stella Igoli( Women Leader), The Tonwei One of Gbanraun Kingdom, High Chief Amaegbe Aseriwei and other indigenes who conducted newsmen round the affected communities in the kingdom in tears noted that if nothing is done, the affected communities will be a shadow of itself in few years to come.
The sory situation of the area is better imagined than told as flood victims sleeps inside local canoes for survival, the flood has submerged virtually all public facilities in the kingdom from worship centers, schools, Health facilities, play-ground and roads.
As the flood finally recedes after over 7 weeks of havoc, sacking the inhabitants of the area, the hope of the people is further rekindled that a new horizon is possible for positive change, this will ameliorate the plights of the people of the ancient kingdom by the immediate award of a shore protection and sand-filling of the affected communities to forestall further occurance and lay to bed the perennial issue of flooding in the kingdom.
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