The Tompolo Foundation yesterday donated relief materials worth N150 million to victims affected by the recent flood in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states as part of measures to cushion the effects on the people.
The President and Chairman, Tompolo Foundation, High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, made the donation on behalf of the foundation.
The Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation, Dr Paul Bebenimibo handed over the relief items to representatives from the various states for onward distribution to the beneficiaries affected by the flood.
The items handed over include 2,400 bags of rice, 100 bags of beans, 200 bags of garri, 5,000 tuber of yams, 200 gallons of palm oil, 600 gallons of groundnut oil and 2,000 cartons of Indomie noodles among others.
Dr Bebenimibo said that victims in Bomadi, Burutu and Patani who were affected by the flood are to benefit from the items.
He added that the Tompolo Foundation also extended its magnanimity to the victims in Isoko, Urhobo and Ndokwa nations respectively.
Victims affected by the flood in Ahaoda West and East in Rivers State were also beneficiaries of the relief items, Dr Bebenimibo also stated.
He noted that victims in seven out of the eight local government areas in Bayelsa State which were impacted by the flood are also to get 600 bags of rice and other items.
While expressing confidence that the relief items will be distributed to affected persons by their representatives without being diverted, Dr Bebenimibo said of the Tompolo Foundation: “We have been on this mission for about 10 years. Specifically, sometime in 2012, a similar flood came. The foundation provided palliatives for the people. And this year we have come again to do our beat.”
High Chief McDonald Igbadiwe, representing Constituency 4 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, speaking on behalf of the Bayelsa State governor, thanked the Tompolo Foundation for the donation of items and its magnanimity in coming to the aid of the victims affected by the flood in the state.
Igbadiwe, who compared the recent flood situation in the area to that of Pakistan, stressed that it is unprecedented.
The Burutu Council Chairman, Hon. Godknows Angele in a chat with newsmen also thanked Tompolo and the Tompolo Foundation for the donations to flood victims.
“This is what we expected some leaders to emulate. Today, Tompolo has come to the aid of the people,” he said noting that the communities in the area had been ravaged by the flood.
Similarly, the commissioner representing the Urhobo ethnic nationality on the DESOPADEC board, Chief Vincent Oyibode in a chat with newsmen also commended the Tompolo Foundation for the good gesture saying, “he (Tompolo) is a good man.”
