By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – A former National President, Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (YOWICAN) and Co-Chairman of the Interfaith Coalition Conference, Engr. Daniel Kadzai, has urged President Bola Tinubu to step up its support to the victims in Borno State.
Kadzai, with reports monitored on various news channels, indicated that the impact of the flood has caused severe damage to the affected areas in the State, appealing to the federal government to increase whatever it has promised as support to the State and victims.
“The flood in Borno State is exceptional, as almost 70% of the entire city has been submerged”, Kadzai said in a statement sent to our correspondent.
However, while commending Tinubu for providing N3 billion Flood Fund to each of the 36 states including Abuja the federal capital territory, Kadzai noted that there is much more to be given to Borno, as it is the most economically backward states due to poor revenue generation associated with over a decade insurgency.
“We have the scratch of what the federal government is doing, but they should also declare an emergency on food, clean water, health and rescue operations.
“People are still trapped on rooftops at different places in the town, and the flood water is stagnant.
“What the federal government needs to do is to deploy a special team of experts to survey, excavate and dredge the floodwater out of Maiduguri,” he said.
Commensurating with the victims, he assured that the prayers of the Church are with the people, promising that the Christian faith will mobilize relief materials to the victims of the flood.
Away from the Borno flood victims, Kadzai advised the organizers of #EndBadGovernance protesters who are proposing another round of protest come October 1, to shelve their plans citing the dire consequences of the previous demonstration.
Kadzai claimed that innocent protesters were killed and many Nigerians, especially in the north, suffered wounds, scars, and financial losses during the ten-day nationwide protest.
He emphasized that the previous protest achieved no fruitful results and that victims were not supported or compensated. He cited reports from the United Action Front of Civil Society, stating that 21 protesters were killed and over 1,100 arrested on the first day of the protest.
“Above all, the main aim of every protest in Nigeria is never achieved. After each protest, the prices of petrol always go up as well as food, so what is the essence of the protest if the proposal is not achieved”, he said.
Kadzai calls for continuous dialogue with the government rather than embarking on a counter productive protest.
