The good intention of the Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegnoyega Oyetola to cushion the pains of residents of the state over the stay-at-home order to curtail the spread of CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) was marred with knocks and condemnations.
The Governor rolled out over 6,000 bags of rice to ease the pains of residents over the lockdown order in the state on Tuesday, the bags of rice were meant to be distributed to all Units and Wards in the state for the poor and the less privilege.
But instead of the rice to meet the yearnings of the residents, it became knocks and condemnations instead of commendation and praises for the government in all the places visited across the state capital, Osogbo, Ede, Ilobu etc.
Apart from the bad quality of the rice shared the quantities were not encouraging, it was below expectations of the people in which those who are lucky had four cups while the unlucky ones that constitute the majority have two cups each. None of the quantity given can take care of any individual for a day not to talk of a family.
At the Ward Unit in Oluode in Osogbo, an indigene of the state who said he went there to collect his own share was met with stiff resistance by the thugs on Tuesday, He said after about 10 people got their share, the hoodlums hijacked it and everybody scampered for safety.
On Gbogan Road, Ogo-Oluwa at Osogbo where I visited, an aged pepper seller complained bitterly that she had been at the venue for hours waiting for her share only to be pushed in the struggles that made her to fall and got wounded in the process. But she was lucky to get about three cups of rice.
Others were not as lucky, a bag of rice that was made available was not enough to go round with only one woman sharing it at the venue. This gave room for rowdiness which later resulted in fisticuffs. In my presence fight ensued when a young man hijacked the remaining small quantity in the bag and went his way with it with force. This resulted in a fight that forced me to intervene, although the man went along with the remnant of the quantity.
At the Onward Junction along Gbongan Road, Osogbo, people were seen waiting endlessly for the rice that never came until about 1.00 pm when it finally arrived. Your guess is as good as mine with only a bag of rice for over 60 people in attendance.
At the Station Road, Ayetoro, Ede, there was no sign that any bag of rice was made available but a source said only two bags of rice was made available in a Ward at Ede with over 2,000 population.
Reports monitored from a popular radio station in the state showed that people were met with frustrations and disappointment with the quantity and quality shared.
There was nothing stopping the State of Osun emulating Lagos and Ogun in packaging the food materials and distribute it to those it would reach instead of the uncivilized manner it was distributed.
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The security situation was perfect in all the places visited with full compliance with the stay-at-home order by the residents. Under the scorching of the sun, the security agents which include the military on patrol, the police apart from those on patrol, they were seen on the major road manning roadblocks checking people walking and those who are mobile. Members of O’Yes, Ethics, Vigilante, Civil Defence and the newly formed Amotekun were seen at the roadblocks.
Our reporter made enquiries from all the security agents and para-military agents if there was any provision for them from the bags of rice shared across the state, the answer was that “nothing sir.”
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The sharing of the rice shared so far was a failure in the arrangements and execution.
The government needs to devise another strategy to reach the real downtrodden people in the remote villages, enjoin the services of the Pastors, Imam and opinion leaders to reach the widows and the aged in the state. This is the only way the government can redeem its image battered in the last few days.
There is no way the rice could ever go round but it should be seen that the government are able to reach its target vulnerable and the poorest in the state.
The security agents who have been working day and nights need to be taken care of a majority of the para-military agents were on voluntary service.
Editor’s Note: The original edition of this report posted early this morning was blocked by unknown persons, luckily we have a draft of it that we republished here.
Thank you.
www.sojworldnews.com (c) April 10, 2020
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