Deluge renders 3,000 persons homeless, 200 houses destroyed on Isheri Riverview Estate, others

Over 10,000 residents of Warewa, Riverview Estate, and Isheri North, in Ogun State, were hit by a deluge when excess waters from Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) dam located in Abeokuta north, were released.

The release caused a deluge that did not not only threaten their lives but also already destroyed their hard-earned investments.

Riverview Estate was a great investment decision for most residents until when the Management of OORBDA decided to allow fishing companies to operate in the dam, thus necessitating the non-discharge of the dam water as and when due.

To allow these fishing companies have maximum profit, the leadership of OORBDA regularly retains water in the dam to make the fish and other aquatic animals in the dam comfortable instead of releasing the water to an acceptable level before the advent of raining season.

The subsequent release of water at the peak of inflow is usually accompanied by heavy flooding in all the communities and Estates, a source informed this newspaper.

There were pleadings from the Estate leadership that the fishing companies be relocated to a deeper section of the dam. The OORBDA MD vehemently refused to take heed.

His reason was that the dam was built for a multi-purpose dam; and, therefore, he could not interfere with the activities of the fishing companies.

However, “after much pleadings, he reluctantly directed his project manager to reduce the intensity of the release so as to alleviate the suffering and after rendering his apologies his conclusion was that they were expecting an ecological fund next year and that as soon as it comes all flooding problems would be sorted out,” a concerned member of the estate privy to the discussion said.

But residents of the Estate are daily getting frustrated as their investments are being dismembered in instalments.

A resident said it was clear the civil servants wanted to use their suffering to access government funds through the ecological funds.

A resident in a post on the Estate WhatsApp platform said:”The recent act of the OORBDA is a tacit declaration of WAR.

“We have towed the path of PEACE. We have listened to advice and allowed this criminal system to continue. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

“It is either We take our destinies into our hands now or risk been thrown out of here in the next 10 years. They are just doing a test run.

“I call on all members of our great estate to come out en masse tomorrow morning for a protest March to Channels tv and from there to Abeokuta the governors office. It is either this or we risk been pushed out sooner or later.

“We wish to convey to our people our deepest regret on the flood currently ravaging our homes. We shall overcome.

“I am by this message asking us all to rise up in voiceferous arms against the perpetrators of this heinous act. How long shall we be scared to challenge a government whose has invaded and desecrated our homes, the very homes they store to protect. We have all become homeless in our homes, “he said.

Efforts to get the Ministry of Water Resources and Mr. Odumosu to speak on the issue proved abortive.

Meanwhile,experts opined that “sweeping”a registered word for dredging the water way will go a long way in putting an end to the flooding.

According to some experts, Ogun river spanning from kara to Majedun in Ikorodu, has built a large heap of sand given that it has not been swept for the past fifty (50) years.