Barely 48 hours after a rainstorm wrecked havoc in some parts of Iyede Kingdom in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, help came on Monday the way of the affected communities whose properties including electric poles were destroyed..
The immediate past Commissioner for Housing in the state and an illustrious son of the Kingdom, Architect Joseph Ogeh, has financed the replacement of damaged electric poles and the reconstruction of the roof the Community Town Hall destroyed by the rainstorm last Saturday in the affected communities.
To this effect, Ogeh has commissioned and mobilized officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to replace the damaged electricity poles and restore power to the affected communities. Contractors are equally working on the Town Hall.
Recall that one person was killed and with scores of persons injured while several buildings and electric poles were damaged during the rainstorm that wrecked havoc in Otor-Iyede, Ekuigbo-lyede, Ogewho, Okpaigie- Iyede, Oteri-Iyede and Oghara-lyede communities on Saturday.
Ogeh who is currently Chief Consultant to the State Government said he was moved by the appeal from the Kingdom to come to their aid in this trying time.
While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the former commissioner assured that he will do everything within his power to restore electricity to the affected communities.
“The incident of Saturday was a terrible experience and I commiserate with the Ataregre family on the demise of their son to the rainstorm.
“As a leader and stakeholder in the Kingdom, I was contacted about the rainstorm that rendered over 500 people homeless and the entire communities thrown into darkness due to damaged electricity poles.
“I have commissioned BEDEC to as a matter of urgency within the next 4 days restore electricity to the affected communities.
“This intervention which involves changing 30 electric poles, 20 high tension and 10 low tension as well as repairs of part of the roof and changing of PVCs ceiling of the Town Hall at Oghara- Iyede will cost millions of naira.
“I took the decision to intervene because the community can’t be in darkness when they have an illustrious son in me.
“In the next couple of days we will restore electricity to the affected communities and am glad to inform you that the people are quite pleased with our swift response as BEDEC has already commenced work on the project.” he said.
Speaking on the development, President-General of Iyede Progress Union, Chief Jerry Okokowa commended Arch. Ogeh for his swift response, saying the people are happy and grateful to God for giving them an illustrious son that always come to the aid of the community in times of distress.
He further appealed to the local and state government to come to the aid of the affected communities as the pains were too much for them to bear.
“Arch. Ogeh’s swift intervention is very commendable and the kingdom will soon write him a letter of commendation to express the gratitude and appreciation of our people for his kind gesture.
“We pray that God will continue to bless him to do more for the community and humanity in general.
“We appeal to government at all levels to come to the aid of the affected communities in rebuilding the destroyed homes and provision of relief materials.” he stated.
