Indigenes of Uwheru community in Ughelli North local government area of Delta state have given reasons why residents of the community booed the Ughelli North council chairman and also rejected relief materials sent to the community.
The Ughelli council chairman, Olorogun Jaro Egbo in company of council officials had visited the community with relief materials to commensurate with them over the flooding that sacked some residents of the community in Uwheru kingdom.
The visitation of the council chairman turned soured when his advanced team with relief materials met for Uwheru and Evwreni communities were rejected with by Uwheru community the before his arrival.
Speaking to newsmen, Egedegbe said, “Yes it is true that Uwheru generally rejected the relief materials in an agreement and good condition despite the fact that the entire place is flooded, we cannot accept what was presented as relief materials.
“Uwheru is one of the biggest kingdom with thirteen (13) communities in Ughelli North, made up of over fifteen thousand (15,000) people in population and we were happy when we heard that the state government is coming with relief materials to flood victims.
“But we were shocked to see that when they came, they brought a bag of garri, 25 bags of sachet water and toilet roll (tissue paper) and when I saw the mood of the crowd that came, we have to reject the items because we cannot distribute a bag of garri to the affected communities.
“We are sure that the relief materials they brought were not from the government as they projected, no rice, beans groundnut oil, but a bag of garri and sachet water, it is unacceptable to us.
Uwheru Youth Leader, Mr Egedegbe Alex Video
Also speaking, Mrs Queen Evru said, “We rejected the items because we are suffering as a result of the flood, we are sleeping by road side and when they said the government is bring relief materials, we were happy.
But we did not see anything tangible, we saw pure water, toilet roll and white garri,we have garri in surplus, what we really needed were not brought, hence we have to reject the items.” She said.
On her own, a Political leader who spoke on anonymous condition said, “The Uwheru people reject the items brought, their annoyance was the garri they was brought, there was no rice, they accused the officials of diverting the fund provided by the government to cushion the flood effect on the affected victims.
The source said, “When the chairman, Olorogun Jaro Egbo came to them, they never listened to him because of the annoyance and I am not aware that he was booed.
A senior security source from the Ughelli Area Command, who spoke over the incident said, “The people are furious and during the process, fight broke but there was no casualty.”
Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Ughelli North Local Government Council, Mr Efe Ekete said, “What really happened was that when we got to Uweru, materials were give to those that were affected by the flood.
“In a thing like this, there are some persons that would say they don’t want and nobody booed the chairman.
“The thing went well, and the chairman commend the effort of the people though, there were some scrupulous people that wanted the disorganized the event and, I know you will not listen to them.” He said.
