MISCONCEPTION ABOUT GOV. SANWO-OLU'S GESTURE ON COVID-19 EMERGENCY FOOD RESPONSE STIMULUS PACKAGE. By Shakiru Seidu. April 6, 2020.
It is crystal clear that the pandemic scourge popularly called COVID-19 is not strange in every nooks and crannies of the world, even the little child in the street can comprehensively elaborate it. This happened the time we least expect it.
All the leaders within and outside the world were thrown into tumult of unraveling the remedy to this deadly scourge that threatens the lives of high and mighty, the young and old. The pandemic is no respecter of persons. Permit me to say that, 'the fear of Coronavirus is the beginning of wisdom'. But the Lagos State government waded into the scene as soon as it was discovered that the rate at which the pandemic was spreading like wildfire and seemed unabated.
The ever dynamic Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was both pragmatic and proactive enough to quickly take some decisions that would halt the further spread of the diseases in Lagos State, even before the Federal government gave its directive of lockdown.
Apart from all the fully equipped isolation centres across the State, restriction of movement was imposed. However, measure was equally put in place to reduce hunger in the society, hence the provision of COVID-19 Emergency Food Response Stimulus Package, specifically for the vulnerable and the overaged ones.
It is quite unfortunate that the gesture has been misinterpreted as many have portrayed on the social media, blackmailing the government. This was put in place within a limited time. The man who deserves our applauds is now being crucified.
Anyway, this shouldn't have been a surprise because even Jesus Christ who fed over 5,000 people was adjudged by the same people that he should be crucified. I think the best at this juncture is for the Governor to remain steadfast, resolute and unmovable.
This is indeed a hard and difficult time that everyone needs to be his brother's keeper. We know there are capable, illustrious and magnanimous individuals who can give benevolently towards the yearning of the people in this hard time in each community within the State.
The government of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu specifically targeted the vulnerable and those who are no longer in active service and who lacked the capacity to work again. It is socially responsible of the privileged ones among us to bolster others because it is certain that this storm will be over soon.
We all should understand that the government will not in anyway want to starve anyone with hunger. The capable ones among us should endeavour to assist the underprivileged. This is an appeal in my candid opinion. We cannot continue casting aspersion by brandishing the government and making mockery of the efforts of the Governor and his articulate team who have been working round the clock in ensuring they contain the further spread of the virus.
However, those in charge of the distribution of the package should be more proactive, transparent and devoid of any form of ulterior motive to divert the materials; this could jeopardize and damage the intention of the Governor and other concerns individuals/groups.
Moreover, it was also discovered that certain persons are allegedly in a bid to hijack the process of the relief materials distribution to their own advantage, thereby denying those who really need the food materials the access to it. Such people are hereby warned to desist from such act; you should also bear in mind that posterity will not forgive you of this devilish act of selfishness of starving the needy. The relief materials are for the needy and not the greedy, as it was displayed recently in some relief materials entrusted with MegaXpression media outlet which were distributed to the vulnerable ones.
Dear reader, while we endeavour to comply with the stay at home directives of the government, let those who have help those who do not have. Givers they say never lack. My prayer is that we will get over this pandemic soonest.
To be continued...
08099799530.
Some of the beneficiaries of relief package
Good write-up!
ReplyDeletePLEASE, ENDEAVOUR TO READ TI THE END, AS THIS IS A SORT OF AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRAM. I LIVE IN ILUPEJU ( ODI-OLOWO/OJUWOYE LCDA.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the Governor, mr Babajide Sanwoolu meant well, and has really done well. The problem is the method of distribution in certain places, and the personnel (distributors) involved in the process. To be candid, a larger percentage of the supposed beneficiaries did not get the food package! When the distributors get to a street, for example, they pick buildings, randomly. In a street of about 70 buildings, they might serve just between 10 - 20 buildings. Note that there's no building where there won't be, at least, one vulnerable (an above 60 years old) person.
I am neither vulnerable nor indigent, but there are Vulnerables where I live. A 78 years old man lives where I live. He got the LASSRA text message, asking him to reply 'YES' to the message, if his house address is still valid. JE DID. Surprisingly, he received no food package till now. The painful part of the matter is that, the distributors came to the house and asked for a man, (one of the Vulnerables, 61years old), gave to him. They never asked for the 78 years old man, talkless of giving him anything.
Another thing these distributors do, all over, is, get to a house, drop a pack with anyone they meet outside/in front of the house, and leave, without any information on who that pack belongs to. As soon as they leave, trouble begins on the sharing formula, as the whole tenants, of at least, 30 people, begin to struggle to share the contents of the bag.
#MYSUBMISSION.
It's rather unfortunate that those who should fight for the common man are the same people frolicking with the government, how can a responsible governor with over 20m citizens make provision for just 200,000?
ReplyDeleteWho is not vulnerable at this perilous times?