Northern group to PANDEF: Female Humanitarian Affairs Minister will not resign

A group of Civil Society organizations and North East pressure group has condemned the South South Caucus in the House of Representatives and pan Niger Delta forum (PANDEF), over the call on the Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster management, Sadiya Farouq, to resign for office over 2022 situation in Bayelsa State.

The group at a joint press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, said that “The call by the PANDEF and the South South caucus on the Minister to resign was borne out sentiment and sheer mischief as there is no reason for the call for resignation in the first place”

The Northern coalition led by Garus Gololo said that “every official comment or statement from any Minister from the North is taking out of context to suit their purpose to call for resignation or sack.”

Dr. Gololo said that the statement that is drawing the wrath of the South South group was based on available statistics from all the state affected by the flood.

“The Minister’s statement was taken out of context. She said Bayelsa is not among the first ten, in terms of the humanitarian crisis, but did not say Bayelsa did not need attention.”

Doctor Gololo, the Coordinator of the group further stated that ” Bayelsa state has eight local government, and Jigawa with 33 local government areas. In Jigawa, 23 local government areas were submerged. Another state is Yobe state , about 26 local government areas were affected, so if you are a Statistician, would say Beyelsa is worst hit?”

“The Minister since her appointment has attached sentiment to management of Disaster and the record is there. There was fire incident in Onitsha, she was there not because the market is owned or managed by Northerners. How many Northerners own a shop there?, at worse they are selling Kolanut and Cigerates from kiosks in Onitsha market”

Dr. Garus, appeal to the leadership of the South-South to avoid inflammatory comments or statement that is capable of causing crisis in the country, saying
“The South South region has had its own fair share of crisis, so it is wrong to create another crisis in that area, because they have a Minister, Timipreye Silva.

“Why are they not telling him to resign; what happened to the 13 percent derivations, the NNDC and Minister of Niger Delta?

“The resources are mismanaged, yet non has resigned ”

According to him” Lagos, Kogi, Kwara, and Anambra were affected, the Minister is working in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), NEMA was on ground in Bayelsa, yet it is not enough because they want to give the innocent woman a bad name” he berated.