The one thousand eight hundred (1800) bags of rice donated by the Federal Government to Oyo State as palliative has been disclosed to be infested and unhealthy for consumption.

The rice which was delivered through the Nigeria Customs Service some days ago and announced by the state government will be taken back to get a new ones in replace.

In a statement made by the Executive Adviser to the governor on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande said that after taking delivery of the donated rice, a quality control inspection was carried out repeatedly and the donation has now been rejected.

Dr. Akande however noted that the donated rice would be returned to the Nigeria Customs Service with the hope that it would be replaced with good quality.

The Executive Adviser further explained that the infested rice would not affect plans of the state government to commence distribution of palliatives to the people, adding that distribution would commence soonest

Also, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Honourable Ojekunle Ojemuyiwa while reiterating the position of state government, stressed that the wellbeing and healthy disposition of the people would not be compromised in the continuing fight to curtail further spread of the virus

The management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has asked twenty-five (25) nurses working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital to go into compulsory isolation as the result for the COVID 19 test for a patient came out to be POSITIVE.

This 62-year old patient, a retired consultant Radiologist in Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, was admitted in the private suites of the University College Hospital on account of Cancer of the prostate. He was said to reside in Lagos, with a travel history to the UK in December 2019.

The surgery was performed to remove the prostate cancer (Radical Prostatectomy) in UCH on the 14th of April 2020.

The patient suddenly developed respiratory distress in the private suites a few days after the surgery. After investigations, he was diagnosed with a background Eventeration of the left diaphragm, which necessitated another surgery (Splenectomy and diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy). So he was moved from the operating theatre into the Intensive Care Unit at 8:40 pm on the 21st of April. 2020.

All these while, no test was conducted to confirm the COVID-19 status of this patient. On getting to the ICU, the report reached the COVID-19 taskforce in Oyo State, who immediately came to take the sample of the patient for the COVID 19 test. Alas, the test came out to be POSITIVE yesterday (23rd April 2020).

Meanwhile, the ICU nurses and doctors who have no full PPEs to protect themselves, have been unduly exposed to the patient. The PPEs were supplied to the unit after the result came out positive.

Report reaching OYOMIND.COM.NG this morning has it that the patient is still in the ICU and has not been moved to the Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) of the hospital or any of the isolation centers in the state.

More so, the ICU itself was not in good shape as fans are actively at work, because the air conditioners have gone on vacation.

All the nurses and Doctors that had direct contact with the patient have been asked to go on isolation with immediate effect.

A son of Akinyele Local Government, Ibadan, Olamide Folorunso, has charged people of the local government area to exercise precautions to prevent the current spread of COVID-19, instead of being fearful and entertaining rumors. He said this alongside distributing palliatives in form of foodstuffs and cash support, to about 1000 individuals of the Local Government.

Under the aegis of the FOLORUNSO ISERERE FOUNDATION, Dr. Olamide Folorunso, a Medical Doctor and an alumnus of both the University of Ibadan and University College London, stated that the Foundation extols the virtue of his father- one of community service and development. ‘It brings great joy to be able to contribute to ensuring that life is more bearable for families at this trying time’ he said.

Also In a statement made by the foundation to the press, he enjoined other citizens, stakeholders and philanthropists to seize this moment to reach out to neighbours, friends and strangers across the nation who may be in need of basic items in this very challenging economic time.

In addendum he further stated, ‘Corona-virus is real, so I implore our people to practice good hand-washing practices, maintain social distancing and take other necessary precautionary measures, because as it stands prevention is the lone viable cure for the disease’.

The foundation’s contact, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akinyele Local Government, Mr. Kayode Olorundare, who coordinated the distribution of the relief materials appreciated the kind gesture shown forth to the people by one of their sons. He, on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the benefactor for showing up for the people at this trying time.

In his closing remarks, he opined the importance of prayer at this very crucial time, as it is very vital to seek God’s intervention regardless of religion affiliation, and prays God puts an end to the spread of the pandemic disease.

He stated that ‘The disbursement cuts across all parts of the local government with no religious, party or other bias’.

One of the beneficiaries stated, ‘The distribution of relief materials to our people at this trying time is highly exemplary of Dr. Folorunso and he deserves commendation and prayers from the people of the constituency’.

As part of her Ibadan Initiative Project (IIP), designed to take care of three core areas of education, health and community development, which coincides, incidentally, this year with the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world, the Ibadan Descendants’ Union, USA, has donated food items which include rice, beans, and semovita to the indigent and most vulnerable residents of Ibadan, today, Saturday, 18th April, 2020 in order to alleviate their suffering during the curfew occasioned by the outbreak of the pandemic globally.

The first phase of the project which took place today covered three strategic locations. The first location at Aleshinloye covered Idi-Arere, Isale-jebu, Popoyemoja, Bode, Agbongbon and Kudeti. The second location near Mapo Hall extended to Mapo, Oritamerin, Oke Dada, Bere, Labiran, Oja’ba and Oranyan while the third location was Ita Baale Olugbode palace, covering Aremo, Agugu, Oje, Yemetu and environs. All the three distribution locations were within Ibadan South East local government area, a part of Ibadan South West and a part of Ibadan North. Other local government areas would receive attention in the second phase of the project.

While speaking on behalf of the National President of Ibadan Descendants’ Union, USA, Dr Olubunmi Afonja, MD, Mogaji Abiola Iyiola, the National General Secretary, who supervised the distribution of the food items, said the gesture from the Ibadan natives in the Diaspora was to reduce the burden of temporary economic downturn caused by Covid-19 outbreak. Speaking further, Mogaji Iyiola said, “We are all aware that this is a trying time for our people at home due to partial reduction in economic activities and in order to identify with their situation, our organization considered it necessary to reach out to the indigent and vulnerable people in our localities.”

Concluding, the National General Secretary, on behalf of all members of IDU, USA, expressed appreciation to BnBallo Charity Concept for making the whole distribution exercise less stressful and successful, free of charge, as he said the exercise would have been in total chaos without the efforts of the charity organization.

More than 500 households benefitted from the distribution of the food items during this first phase of palliative programs by IDU as four people were targeted in each household with a pack each containing rice, beans, semovita and noodles.

While responding, some of those who benefitted from the palliative distribution, on behalf of others, expressed sincere appreciation to the Ibadan Descendants’ Union, USA for extending the magnanimous gesture to them to help them cope with the parlous condition that the pandemic brought upon them as they prayed for the sons and the daughters of Ibadan in United States of America for rewarding returns home.

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has sent his felicitation message to the Muslims in the state as they commence yet another Ramadan fasting.

Governor Makinde through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, enjoined Muslim faithful to pay relentlessly during the fasting period and specifically ask the Almighty Allah to show mercy on the people.

Makinde said that Muslims must embrace the demanded of them during the Ramadan and ask Allah to put an end to the novel Covid-19 which is ravaging the whole world.

According to him, sacrifice and increase prayers are important and critical at this time, when the world is fighting a vicious Coronavirus pandemic.

“It was regrettable that Muslims in the state and across the country cannot observe the Ramadan the way they have been used to over the years, the situation should only be seen as part of the sacrifice we all have to make at this time.

“I am aware our Muslim brothers have been told that hey would not be able to gather for Tafsir, Iftar and Tarawih prayers during the month-long Ramadan, due to the restrictions brought pon us all by the Covid 19 pandemic.

“I enjoin you all to see his as a reflection of the sober mood the world has been thrown into as a result of the pandemic.

“Please use the opportunity of this month of blessings to seek Allah’s forgiveness to make the pandemic a thing of the past.”

He also admonished Muslims to tune their minds to the messages of love, brotherliness and peaceful co-existence inherent in the messages of the Holy Prophet, while also being their brothers’ keepers.

Oyo State together with other thirty-five states in Nigeria has agreed to a 14days National Lockdown to guide against the spread of coronavirus from state to state.

This is contained in a communique issued by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman and the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi at the end of the six COVID-19 teleconference meeting where the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun share their experienced and lessons from the fight against COVID-19.

State governors called for the decentralization of the COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities with over 25 States now affected by the spread of the virus and increasing evidence of community transmission.

Members of the NGF also voiced serious concern over the rising spread of the virus among health workers and resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are “adequately” provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are “constantly” trained on the use of protective gears.

Oyo State Covid-19 Task Force has released information about the new case of coronavirus suspect in the state which makes it a total of seventeen (17).

The covid-19 confirmation test result of the suspect came back positive after the patient had died at the University College Hospital, Ibadan making it the first death case in Oyo State.

According the State Covid-19 Task Force, contact tracing has already commenced to locate those that might have come in contact with the suspect recently.

Out of the seventeen cases recorded, ten had tested negative, one case was transferred to Lagos, one death recorded while a total number of active cases in Oyo state is now five.

A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe and Wife, Mrs. Abimbola Tegbe has joined other indigenes of the state to commiserate with the Akinjide Family on the demise of Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide.

In a statement made available to oyomind.com.ng, the Tegbe family expressed that the death of Chief Akinjide came as a rude shock and described him as a very dear father, mentor and role model who played an important role in their union which started when he chaired their wedding ceremony in December 1995.

“The news of his demise came as a rude shock to Abimbola and I. He played an important role in our union which started when he chaired our wedding ceremony in December 1995 and had remained very supportive since then.

“It is truly heartbreaking but we are not only consoled that Papa has written his name in the sands of time, but we are also happy that he is in a better place.

“He was a professional in every sense of the word. A true believer in the rule of law, his intelligence and thoroughness set him apart amidst his peers. He will surely be missed in the Nigerian Legal System.

“We thank God for giving Papa Akinjide the opportunity to make clear-cut impacts during his well-spent time on earth. I pray that his legacy will not dwindle and that The Good Lord will grant him eternal rest.

“It is also my prayer that The Good Lord will grant the entire Akinjide family, the Judiciary where he served admirably and the nation he served meritoriously the fortitude to bear this colossal loss.”

I woke again this morning feeling more languish and ravenous than I was before I went to bed last night. Apparently, It was the second consecutive time that we didn’t eat before drifting to bed. Our eatables were gradually getting exhausted, hence, we skipped our proposed undernourished meal for the next morning, leaving for bed without a pinch of tidbit. You can imagine the terrible experience we are yet passing through, as my father who’s the breadwinner could no longer go to work, the mother is away on the land of no return, and we the children couldn’t add anything tangible to the table, considering that all business activities has been shutdown. Consequently, it’s a situation of no joy as I also observed that even our next-door neighbor also slouched impulsively in this same shoe of hunger and anger that was born out of the lockdown declaration by the federal government in the measure to contain the Coronavirus

It’s evident that Nigeria enfolds the population of about 200 million people, of which half of her people are susceptible to extreme hunger, most especially and blistering in a pandemic period like this where every place appears to be shut off from all human and nonhuman activities. Perhaps, one does not necessarily need a flattering NCDC report or a presidential task force press release to tell us that how people are hindered and unable to go out, fending for a means of survival. It’s dismaying that Covid-19 lockdown blooms and protracts every day in our community without a substantial palliative measure to diminish the hardship of millions of Nigerians living from hand-to-mouth, or who could hardly spend a dollar per day.

True, as imperative as this lockdown process could project, it’s however peremptory that government should ascertain that locking down people down at home in a destitute country like this, is like asking people to go famished for the duration of the lockdown. Consecutive congenial has studies has shown over the years that more than 50 percent of Nigerians survive on daily pay from menial jobs, small scale businesses, buying and selling, petty trading e.t.c. This closure only decrypts that their means of daily livelihood has been shutoff. Hence, one needs to ask the question of what will be the fate of a 54-year-old breadwinner man who sells planks at a lockdown Bodija market, and yet, will still have to cater to his family of five. Again, of what will be the fate of a secondary school teacher, employed by his private employer, and yet he will not receive a fine of salary during this lockdown. It’s seeming that some employers had forced their employees to an unfair pay cut of irrelevant values. Some had even outrightly relieve their workers of their employment.

In the plight of this situation, the pains and twinges of hunger of people are gradually breeding the ugly effects that we cannot overlook. These hungry people can no longer fend or contain themselves anymore inside their houses. They are getting suckered by the hunger caused by the lockdown, it summarises that we can relatively see the ‘rebellious’ ones out on the street, looking for what to devour, before they are finally devoured by famishment. Just Imagine, how do the Nigerian government expect her citizen to survive against a lockdown without palliatives? These resources that are not even enough to feed a family of five in 2 one week, yet the government finds euphoria in distributing these sort of intangible tidbits, considering it can never be enough to pull through. It’s, however, infuriating that lack of food to survive in our community had procreated into a crime infiltrated community. The crime rate at which people are indulging in these days is overwhelming. Markets women selling foods are harassed, tenants are harassed, landlords are harassed. Our ears are filled with various reports of angry and hungry youths invading parts of the community, knocking at doors, demanding money for food. This state of affairs has made life unnecessarily daunting and insecure. According to reports from an eye witness last week, suspected and unidentified hoodlums, invaded some communities in the Ibadan North local government of Oyo state, areas such as Barika, Sango, and environs, breaking into shops and houses carting away people’s valuables. The situation has caused the residents of these areas to live in fear of the unknown.

Moreover, in the light of this theme, it’s evident that the ‘stay at home’ order is inevitable in order to curtail the spread of this fast infecting virus. It’s only bad identifying that inasmuch as the government is affected by this lockdown, so are the people they govern upon. It’s thereby a question of whether there are any other relative means of clogging the wildfire of this virus? And should it be only by locking down of activities, it’s the question of if the government will continue watching her vulnerable people die of hunger while shutting off at home? Or shall the government watch her community be regularly invaded by this ‘rebellious and ad-hoc’ hoodlums? And maybe the question of if the government will still continue with her meager distribution of palliatives? Or won’t the thought of hunger won’t kill people faster than the virus itself.

Therein, as there is a need for the people to exercise some restraint at this time of health challenges caused by a coronavirus, so is the need for the government to hasten her steps in ensuring the safety of her citizens. The Federal and state governments should urgently put in place social protection measures to uphold the right to food. Distribution of palliatives should not be scanty, and not be a matter of prejudice. The measures to address food insecurity could include food subsidies for those living in poverty, and directly providing food to those who are unable to provide for themselves. Without support from the government, the lockdown would become a matter of life and death for those living in poverty. The government needs to also provide adequate security to the people while enforcing the restrictions and movement of the people. In the same light, the government should also tame the activities of the forces while they are enforcing the lockdown. The admixture of the Nigerian police force and the soldiers have been deployed to the streets to monitor the movement of people and ensure they comply with lockdown measures implemented by governments. However, security personnel is using disproportionate force in dealing with members of the public, including beatings and other forms of public harassment, such as making people do indecent things in the name of enforcement.

Finally, it’s the duty of we all to ensure that we have a corona virus-free community, the people should do their part by staying safe at home and ensuring the necessary hygiene practice while the government should do the needful, ensuring her people are enshrouded away from hunger.

Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun
thedreamchaser65@gmail.com
0908 699 6613