Abiodun Fulfils Promise, Distributes Palliatives to Ogun Residents

BY SEGUN DADA

Reliefs have now come the way of the residence of Ogun State as the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR) has finally made good his promise to the people by distributing palliatives to cover no fewer than 80,000 households in the State.

The gesture by the governor came as a way of cushioning the effects of the lockdown imposed on the residents to curtail the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a caring governor, the number one citizen had at first put on hold the lockdown of the state for four days just to enable him prepare for the packaging of the food palliatives as well as for the people to fully prepare for the coming lockdown ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, which has now entered its 5th week.

Meanwhile, distribution of palliatives and other welfare packages across the state has since started and with many beneficiaries showing their appreciations to the State Government for keeping faith with them over the palliatives which they noted has helped reduce the pressure that the lockdown has caused and the attendant slowness in the advancement of Covid-19 pandemic.

This week alone, thousands of youths in Ogun State have benefitted from the palliatives and have equally expressed their gratitude to the Governor for remembering them in this second batch of the distribution as well as applauding him for the effective measures being taken by the administration in fighting the dreaded coronavirus disease.

Assuring the youth in the state of the Governor’s commitment towards providing relief materials during the extension of the lockdown, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Sports, Olamide Lawal, who represented the Governor during the distribution also called on them to expect more support and empowerment programs from the State Government post Covid-19 era.

“We thank the Governor for this laudable step and we assure him of Youth Council’s support at all time” Lawal said at the event, adding that “Governor Abiodun has now shown that he’s a leader who is capable of such kind gesture in the distribution of palliatives of this magnitude and this is quite rare and commendable.”

In his own reaction at the event, the State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Abduljabar Ayelagbe, who led the youth to the distribution venue described the efforts of the Governor as commendable, adding that for remembering to give palliatives and other welfare items to the youths in all the 20 local governments of the state, this is a rare gesture that the Youths of the state will never forget.

It is also noteworthy that this second batch of distribution is being done at every of the 20 local governments areas in the state at the same time with special focus on the aged, widows/widowers, vulnerable and physically challenged following the same protocols and guidelines.

In Ijebu Ode Local Government for instance, the distribution exercise was said to have been open, fair and equitable with the assistance of the 44 quarter heads (Olorituns) and the 42 village heads (Baales) in the Local Government.

These community leaders were said to have been charged to follow the already generated lists from their various quarters/communities and villages to ensure fairness in the sharing and distribution of the palliatives and in addition, independent observers were also attached and commissioned to monitor the distribution exercise with video recordings and photo shoots coverage as evidence of the activities made.

This same protocols was followed in all the LGAs where the palliatives were distributed, which has made many people who have received from this second batch commend the State Government for their transparency and magnanimity.

Recall that during his last broadcast to the people of the State, Governor Abiodun had promised to commence the second phase of distribution of palliatives/stimulus for the Covi-19 lockdown immediately, which is expected to cover over 80,000 households, that is over 400,000 individuals.

“If we add this to the first phase which covered over 100,000 households, it means that at the end of this second phase, we will have covered almost 200,000 households, and almost One Million individuals” he said, adding that “Let me also reassure our people that we have learnt some lessons from the first phase of the distribution. This second phase therefore will reflect the lessons learnt in better organization, improved process of distribution and delivery to the vulnerable groups, aged and indigent.”

Speaking further he said “Let me state clearly that we will not tolerate any diversion or subversion by any individual or group” while warning that “such act will be viewed as crime against the State and visited with the full wrath of the law.”

Ogun State was placed under lockdown by President Buhari along with the Federal capital territory and Lagos since March as part of the efforts to combat the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdown is expected to be relaxed in the coming week as announced by the president in his last address to the nation.