PRESIDENCY: The call for the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to resign is not appropriate for now

There has been massive comments steady flowing in on the call for the Minister of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq to resign, over her comments on the flood state in Bayelsa.

The presidency however, said yesterday that the call for her resignation is not appropriate for now.

It also said the Federal Government’s thoughts are with the flood victims of Bayelsa as the state of the flood is saddening.

Recall that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs had been under attacks over her comments which was tagged inhumane, when she said Bayelsa is not one of the top ten states in Nigeria suffering from flood, but Jigawa, regardless of the obvious struggles the residents there are facing to the flood with obvious loss of lives and properties.

Her comment led to series of calls, especially from the South-South, for her to resign as she is not allegedly not living up to her responsibilities.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, titled, “Devastating Bayelsa and other States flooding worrisome to Presidency, no time for reproach,” assured that the government at the centre would continue to do more for the state and all other states affected.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, titled, “Devastating Bayelsa and other States flooding worrisome to Presidency, no time for reproach,” stating that almost every state in Nigeria was affected by the flood, and that the Monister of Humanitarian affairs has been working diligently to target assistance where it is most needed.

The statement read: “The scenes of flooding from Bayelsa state are deeply saddening. The Presidency’s thoughts are with victims of, and those affected by, the floods.

“However, calls from some quarters for the resignation of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development are not appropriate in this climate.

“Almost every state in Nigeria has been affected.

“The Federal Government is concerned about what has happened in Bayelsa as it is with respect to the other states. No life lost is bigger or lesser than that of the others.

“The challenge of bringing succour to the large number of the displaced people in Bayelsa and other states, the restoration of their damaged property and farmlands washed away have clearly overwhelmed disaster management efforts so far  but that  is not to say no efforts are being made.

“The huge need for everything from foodstuff to tents, blankets and mosquito nets; ant malarial and other drugs clearly indicate that more resources are needed,  not only by the disaster management agencies at the center but also by those at the State and local council levels that are structurally, the first responders.

“The Minister has been diligently working to target assistance where it’s most needed and plug the gaps in several state governments’ disaster responses.”

The statement commended the Bayelsa state Government for their work so far as regards the flood but said they can do better with the increased Federal assistance which is still being delivered to them batch by batch.

“All these efforts are coming ahead of the report of the committee under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum, set up by the President “to fashion out solutions and then escalate their conclusions to the Federal Government, to alleviate the plight of people currently being ravaged by flood around the country.”

“This is just as more is being expected by way of international response and how much difference can be made by support from businesses and nonprofits as the country deals with its worst flooding in decades.

“We hope that everyone, the agencies of the federal government, the states and the local councils will increase the attention to pay to the challenges of climate change.

“Clearly, this is not a time for public reproach. It will only weaken our collective response to the tragedy, and ultimately hinder cooperation that saves lives and delivers emergency aid.

“The government at the centre will continue to do more for Bayelsa and for all states so affected as more and more resources are made available to agencies dealing.” The statement read.