Flood: Senator Faduyile distributes relief materials to Ondo South victims
By Steve Ovirih.
The Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Prof.Dayo Faduyile,OON has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of the August flooding in Okitipupa and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of Ondo State.
The flag-off ceremony, which held on Tuesday, September 29, in Okitipupa, attracted hundreds of beneficiaries drawn from the two local governments, who went home with food items and household materials. It will be recalled that following the heavy July/August flooding which ravaged Okitipupa, Distinguished Senator Dayo Faduyile visited areas affected across the Local Govt and other areas with an assurance to the flood victims that he will reach out to National Emergency Management Authority and ensure that necessary relief materials are provided to cushion the effect of the flood.
Senator Faduyile in the course of the inspection of worst hit areas had visited Aja Akinneyin Quarter along Ikoya Rd, Akoko/Sedara/Ajagbale New site, Off Omowa Street and The General Hospital area where the Yewa bridge had overrun its bank. While meeting with the flood victims, he had advised that poor drainage system should be discouraged as this hampered free flow of water during the heavy rainy tide.
In the September Empowerment of Senator Faduyile, materials distributed included bags of rice, beans, garri, vegetable oil, mosquito nets, beds and other household items.
Speaking at the flag off of the empowerment, Senator Faduyile, who was represented by his aide, said the intervention was aimed at cushioning the effect of the flooding, which had wreaked havoc on farmlands, houses and property in the affected communities in early August.
The Ondo South Senator noted that responsive representation demanded identifying with the people in times of distress.
He assured that he would continue to facilitate interventions that would directly impact on the lives of his constituents.
According to him, “The heavy flood in August left many families displaced and devastated. As your Senator, it is my duty to stand with you and provide succour. This relief is to help you recover and rebuild.”
The Chairman of the Senator Faduyile Relief Materials Distribution Committee, Hon.Sola Ehinmisan in an exclusive chat with the polity.net on the fringe of the Empowerment thanked the beneficiaries for being orderly as people from the different areas hit by the flood filed out to collect the distributed items. He said to ensure an effective process, cards were handed out to each beneficiary after the accreditation exercise to ensure that the materials went round everybody captured ahead of the distribution.
Beneficiaries, in their separate remarks, lauded the lawmaker for what they described as timely and adequate intervention.
One of the beneficiaries in Okitipupa, Chief Emaye Omotola said the gesture was a clear demonstration of caring heart leadership, which the senatorial district had yearned for over the years. “Senator Faduyile today confirmed that politicians can actually make and keep to their words. When he came to us in early August and gave his words that he would be back with adequate relief materials, like Sarah, we said Amen. Today, with the Empowerment that we have seen here which people are taking home, we have a renewed hope in his leadership capacity as he has not just fulfilled his early August promise but has also made us have belief in his leadership capacity.”
Another beneficiary from Ese-Odo, Mr. Paul Oniyemofe said the relief materials were enough to cushion the effect of the disaster, commending Faduyile for his prompt response.
They prayed for the Senator and called on other public spirited individuals, corporate organisations and government agencies to emulate him.
In a separate interview, Secretary Local Govt Okitipupa, Hon.Femi Oladokun thanked Senator Faduyile, whom he described as the new face of responsive leadership in Ondo South, for putting smiles on the faces of the flood victims in the area, noting that the Chairman of the Local Govt,Hon.Andrew Ogunsakin expressed his appreciation to the Senator for facilitating the relief materials within the shortest possible time for the flood victims.
Meanwhile, the residents of Akoko/Sedara Street,Ajagbale New site have detailed a letter of appreciation to the Ondo South Senator. The area was badly hit by the flood. Residents who were captured during profiling ahead of the Empowerment sent the appreciation letter signed by Mr. Wole Omosule and Benson Ogunji. The letter reads in part, “On behalf of the good people and flood victims of Akoko /Sedara Street, Okitipupa,we write to express our profound and sincere gratitude to our Distinguished Senator Prof.Dayo Faduyile for the timely intervention and provision of relief materials for our community affected by the recent flood.
“Your kind gesture has brought great relief,hope and succor to many families who lost property, farmlands and means of livelihood to the flood.
“Your gesture is a clear demonstration of your responsive, compassionate and people-oriented representation and a true reflection of a leader who feels the pains of the people.”