The Ijaw National Congress (INC), on Tuesday donated relief materials to flood victims in Bayelsa and Delta states, South-South Nigeria, in support of efforts by the governments of both states to reduce the suffering of displaced persons.
The items distributed include bags of garri, rice, sachet water, insecticides, among others.
Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President of the INC, presented the relief materials to the managements of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at the Yenagoa Oxbow Lake in Bayelsa, and Patani in Delta.

Sympathizing with the victims, he said INC is concerned about the hardship that the natural catastrophe had brought on affected persons, especially Ijaw people.
He noted that a period of distress such as this requires demonstration of love, solidarity and sympathy.
Okaba was accompanied by the Secretary of the INC, Ebipamowei Wodu; Welfare Secretary, Peremo Isenah-Opiah, Financial Secretary, Kennedy Odiowei, Legal Adviser, Bomo Tons Fetepigi-Obhe.
Also on the team was Chief Doodei Weeks, Central Zonal Chairman of INC.
He berated the Federal Government for not showing any presence in any of the flood-ravaged states since the humanitarian crisis started, alleging that the government at the centre was only interested in the oil revenue accruing to it from the Niger Delta.
Okaba said, “Is it not surprising that after two or three weeks of suffering, you have not seen any Federal Government presence here? But as we speak, our oil is being drilled on a daily basis from the bowels of the Niger Delta.

“It is not too difficult for the Federal Government to take oil, but it is too difficult for the Federal Government to bring relief materials to people like you. It is very shameful. It is unfortunate. We will continue to cry until a day will come when God will listen to our cry.
“The Ijaw National Congress is not a profit-making organisation but we want to show that in the midst of all this suffering, we should visit our people, empathise with you and show love to you.”
While calling on well-meaning organisations and international donor agencies to come to the aid of the flood victims, the Ijaw leader commended the managements of the IDP camps for their orderliness which, he noted, could attract more donations to them.
Receiving the relief items, the Yenagoa Oxbow Lake IDP camp commandant and Chief Whip of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, thanked the INC for the kind gesture.
Koku-Obiyai said that there were between 4,000 and 5,000 persons in the camp, noting that the donated items would help a great deal.
Also, the Chairman, Patani Local Government Flood Management Committee, Ladein Omiebi, lauded the INC for providing succour to the over 2,000 IDPs in the camp and appealed for more support from public-spirited groups, individuals and corporations. (NAN)