The Group President of Azikel Group of Companies, Dr. Godbless Azibapu Eruani has donated over 40,000 mini bags of 10kg rice to the Bayelsa State Government in fulfillment to his pledge to provide succour to flood victims in Bayelsa State.
This is as he had earlier provided thousands of mattresses to flood victims at the various IDP camps.
Speaking while making the donation, the Group President of Azikel Group, Godbless Eruani said he was moved to make the donation to give hope to Bayelsans whose source of livelihood have been devastated by the what he described as the worst flood the world has witnessed in recent times.
Eruani said the gesture was in redeeming the pledge of N350m worth of relief materials to support flood victims in the state, stating that amidst being conferred with the Commander of the Federal Republic his joy was aborted because of the pains of Bayelsans occasioned by the flood.
He noted that despite the natural disasters that threatened to wipe out the people the resillence, strength and unity has continued uphold Bayelsans as a people standing tall challenging the other parts of the country that they can survive in the most unfriendly conditions.
He said, ” Today is one of our special days in history, few weeks back Bayelsa suffered the most devastating flood destruction that the world have ever seen almost all the livelihood of the Bayelsa people were wiped out under water. In 2012, we have a similar situation but 2022 was worst than anyone can imagine.
” Bayelsa begin to cry to God and to cry to man there was nothing we could than to stand up for one another to hold our pains in hope that relief will come. We struggle in these daring drowning times. Governor of Bayelsa State was out in the streets looking for help going from community to community consoling the persons from Bayelsa that have continue to suffer this loss. It was a very sad moment I think that was one of the lowest moments the people have ever seen.
” I came to the state, to the governor to give him hope, I came went to every community to give hope, hope should not dispear us I know the times are challenging and I know that most critical was relief materials that would be needed at a time like this particularly as the flood begin to wave out, particularly as we begin to recover from the losses and we made a solemn pledge, a pledge of 350 million Naira worth of relief materials.
” I was committed to that and I think I underestimated it, shortly before I meet the governor they whisper to me that these relief materials were needed very very immediately and that very moment we release moneies to quickly purchase mattresses that were delivered the next day to all the people that were in the IDP camps.
The group president of Azikel Group while explaining the the bags of rice were christened and tagged as flood relief 2022 for ease of distribution to affected flood victims, noted that any bags seen outside the state would be termed as diversionary.
He urged the those charged with the responsibility of distribution the rice to various local government areas to ensure that they do so effectively and be accountable and promised to assist to make sure the materials get to the people.
Eselema Gbaranbiri, Commissioner of Environment and Chairman Bayelsa Flood Mitigation Task Force who received the items on behalf of Governor Douye Diri thanked Dr. Azibapu Eruani identifying with with flood victims at the critical time of their needs.
Gbaranbiri particularly appreciated the Group President of Azikel Group for redeeming his pledge of donation N350m Naira worth to relief materials to the Bayelsa State Government, adding that such gesture is what the state government expects from well meaning individuals and corporate bodies in ameliorating the plight of Bayelsans ravaged by the recent flood.
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