Death is inevitable, as our normal slogan always goes whenever the announcement of a deceased around us or from anywhere in the world is made. But the inevitability of it should not be taken for granted as many people have died untimely due to the nonchalant attitudes to things that matter.

The coronavirus got to its pandemic state in less than two months of its outbreak, so sad that many African countries, Nigeria inclusive did not prepare for the unfortunate incident. As a Pacesetter State that exists within the Nigerian boundary, with an assumed ‘Human Face’ policy of the governor, it is of expectation that we should learn from the silly mistakes made in Europe before they got hit heavily by the pandemic coronavirus disease.

The stage which we are now, the United State of America, the United Kingdom, Italy and some other countries in Europe were there between December and January. They were having their normal day to day activities, sporting activities were on normal schedule until some of the players and coaches started testing positive of covid-19 and before you know it, the whole world has been infected, which way?

Aside from sporting activities, it was also recorded that a gay party that witnesses scores of participants held in Italy which makes it the beginning of their problem.

Governor Makinde has really done well in the aspect of shutting down of some places in the state which include the announcement of curfew between 7 pm and 6 am but this is not enough as there are a lot of things left unattended to.

The governor during one a phone call conversation on a popular radio station in Ibadan insisted that Oyo State will not be lockdown because he does not know who will benefit here. He even said we might go to the Czech Republic Way.

Mr. Governor sir, it will be good to let you know the status of our state in clear terms that, those market women, artisans, and drivers you feel you are trying to protect now are the most vulnerable to the virus at the moment.

Maybe you don’t know, take a walk to those popular markets in Ibadan such as Ogunpa, Bodija, Agbeni, Oje, and Dugbe, you will definitely shake your head and ask if we are on another planet having seen how the daily activities are been carried out, and without taking cognizance of the spread of this virus. Commercial drivers still carry passengers the normal way while they have no one to put them in control.

This is a time to be proactive and be firm in making a decision on things that matters.

While I pray that may Italy never happens to us, the sun is still enough to dry those wet clothes.

Mr. Governor should do the needful, let people stay indoor for a while and stop toying with our lives.

Lawal Akinkunmi Monsur
lawalakinkunmimonsur@gmail.com

In a way to ensure that people of Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State get enlightened about the coronavirus which is said to have reached its pandemic stage.

The Young Elite Club (YEC) of Ibadan South West Local Government held a three-day sensitization program between Wednesday and Friday to enlighten the residents and market people on the need to embrace hygienic habits and observe precautionary measures in order not to contract as well as to avoid the spread of the deadly COVID-19.

The sensitization exercise which was led by the YEC Chairman, Alhaji AbdulFatai AbdulHafeez together with other members voyages numerous places such as markets, motor parks, and shopping malls.

A member of the group, Mr. Adeyemi emphasized the proper use of nose cover. He stated further that only people with one ailment or who have been infected should cover their nose with the white part of the nose cover while those who are healthy should cover their nose with the green part to avoid contracting the virus.

The association budged round all the markets such as Oja’ba, Iba Oluyole, Alagolo, Agbeni and malls (Mapo Hill, Baptist Church, and total filling station) where hand sanitizers, hand gloves, and nose covers were given to people, passersby inclusive.

The Mogaji of Iba Oluyole, Alhaji Nureni Akanbi who was represented by Inspector Ishola Oyelere while receiving the group commended their efforts for putting up such a wonderful program at the period when the people needed them.

“I am highly dumbfounded and amazed to see such an elite set of youths coming up with such a wonderful program and palliative to the people at this trying time without being sponsored by politicians or philanthropists.

“On behalf of Mogaji, I want to appreciate you all for rendering this service to support the fight against coronavirus in our community. Mogaji himself is happy with you all and he would like to see the kind of worthy youths represent the constituency in the future as you have stood up when the people needed you most.

The YEC members took their time to visit the Babaloja of Oja’ba and Akere Market, Chief Suara Yusuf Oladimeji, Iyaloja of the market, Alhaja Adijat Olajide Aweni and the Chairman of the market, Alhaji Isa Akande.

In their remarks, they were happy to see young people coming out to keep the people aware of the coronavirus as most market people still think it is not real. They all extensively prayed for them and that they would relay their message to other executives of the market.

The Federation of Igboora Students’ Union (FISU) National Council has expressed her dissatisfaction over the deplorable state of infrastructures in Ibarapa land.

In a press stated signed by the National President, Adesope Abass Adefemi and Senate President, Ogunjimi Samod Babatunde, it was reveal that the association is not contented with the pace of development in Ibarapa land despite having two state and federal honourables, five local government and LCDA Chairmen.

The Press Statement Reads Thus:

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDER’S IN IBARAPA, OYO STATE

We write this letter, not because it is frustrating to see how we allowed a defrauded propaganda to position our people as the pawns in the political chess game called Ibarapa, but rather, We write this letter in an effort to request that we free ourselves from these propaganda that have lingered for too long. If our grandfathers and fathers did not ask questions, is there any divine law that says we cannot ask? Our fathers nonchallant attitudes towards those who hold various political offices in the past has deprived our development since inception and that is what happens to people who are not in control of their cultural development, political and economic future. That is what happens to people who are just kept for their services; that is what happens to people who are just custodians of wealth for a supposedly superior people and finally, that is what happens to people who are seen as slaves. Any name is suitable for them, they can only get whatever is given to them even if it is originally and constitutionally theirs.

As a community, the human collective right has been treated with such huge disrespect by you, our leaders, for way too long. You continue to lie to us every day. Be it through saying you will do something while trying to get us to vote for you and then not delivering the mandate bestowed on you after the poll. Be it stating one reason for something when the real reason is something completely different. Or, be it through allowing corruption to still exist at all levels of your governance. The lists of lies you have told us are endless. We ask that you stop lying about policy decisions. Stop lying about history. In fact please stop lying about anything to do with money and budgets.

It is highly lugubrious that our leaders after assuming any public office will automatically turn Ibadan and Abuja to their various houses despite the fact that any community development depends heavily on communication and leadership, which implies that without proper communication between the leaders and the people of the community, such community will hardly advance in all ramification.

We are not contended with the pace of development in our land despite the fact that we are having two state and two federal honorable, five local government and LCDA Chairmen, we are good to go with all this, Ibarapa which happens to be the most peaceful zone in Oyo state then as now turn to kidnappers den immediately after the 2019 general election and yet nobody has took any action as if everything is normal, another most embarrassing thing is the research carried out by Tolulope Bademosi led team of T.V.C. which indicate Igboora in Ibarapa land has the highest number of dilapidated school buildings in Oyo State, in a situation where there is no conducive learning environment how do we help the students to concentrate on their studies, no wonder we are having increase in crime rate.

It is no more news that we are lagging behind in all aspect, the electricity supply is nothing to boast of, our hospitals and clinics are symbol of death, Our roads are nothing but Bermuda’s triangle, no standard financial institution (bank) and all these are depriving investors to come and invest in our land, abandoned NIPOST quarters in Sagan – un is now home to hoodlums, no Public Library in the whole Igboora, our dilapidated town hall is the perfect example of peddler’s inn, we equally have an abandoned stadium since 1992 and yet nobody shows concern, we are tired of all this bad precedence that have set in our community, our unemployment graduates are now increasing every day and you our leaders due to your own selfishness still taken our available resources to invest in other places when you haven’t solve the one in your immediate environment.

It is not skeptical that Ibarapa is the highest producer of cassava in Nigeria nation at large, if you our leaders are innovative enough to carried out further research on how to convert this raw materials, it is obvious that by now we will be producing starch, ethanol, flour and this will position us on world map and we will be able to compete on the global radar and this will automatically increase our Internal generated revenue to develop our land. We the leadership of FISU community having took our time to look into all these bad precedence which make us to realised that if urgent and necessary actions is not taken by you our leaders, in the nearest future our community will be wallowing in the shackle of poverty, destruction e.t.c, finally, the Federation of Igboora students union as a peace loving union admonishes you all to come back home and take your responsibilities because our ancestral pedigree will never forget your deeds.

Thank you all.

Yours in struggle

ADESOPE ABASS ADEFEMI
Executive President

OGUNJIMI SAMOD BABATUNDE
Senate President

A former student of the Univerisity of Ibadan, Dr. Ekundayo Samuel has been selected to join the 2020 class of the prestigious leadership program; Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) Future Leaders Program.

Dr. Samuel (DVM Ibadan, M.Sc (Biochemistry) is a one-time University of Ibadan Scholar and a 2017 Commonwealth Split-site Ph.D. Scholar to the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

Being the first Student from Nigerian University to win this award, he was selected alongside 30 elite Ph.D. and Postdoctoral scholars from across the world to win this year’s competition.

As a beneficiary of this award, Dr. Samuel alongside others will receive a fully paid trip to CAS Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, USA from August 10-15, 2020 and a trip to the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting and Exposition from August 16-20, 2020 in San Francisco, California, USA.

Added to these benefits are certificate of distinction to become a life member of CAS; a 3-year prepaid ACS membership and $1000.

Dr. Samuel has also been awarded an American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Mentoring Network award to participate in the Coaching for Career Development Program from 2019 to 2020. Also, Ekundayo is the first student from any Nigerian university and one of two in any African University to receive this award since its inception in 2016.

Following an appeal by the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan on 26 March 2020, for voluntary donations from well-meaning Nigerians and groups, to support the premier Health institution in its response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Bimbo Adekanmbi has donated N1 million naira in response to the appeal.

Presenting the Cheque on Wednesday 01 April 2020, Adekanmbi appreciated all the good work of the UCH at the very frontlines of combating the COVID – 19 virus.

The UCH made the appeal for support, in order to scale up its initial 4-bed isolation unit to an 18-bed facility and to also purchase critically needed, multiple numbers of life-saving equipment and health consumables.

The donation by Adekanmbi to the UCH is on the back of other swift responses that he had rolled out to the general public, to contribute to the slowing down of the Coronavirus in Oyo State. He had earlier distributed hand sanitizers to scores of Markets in Ibadan and in Oyo Town, alongside a sensitization campaign to Traders in a bid to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Adekanmbi had also distributed over 200 bags of rice as relief material to residents across the 33 local government areas of Oyo state.

Adekanmbi urged well to do individuals, groups and corporate organizations in the state, to respond to the appeal by the UCH and to join in the fight against the deadly disease, as combined efforts will bring about the expected result.

In light of the outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria – and more recently in Oyo State – Philanthropist and Founder, Tegbe Foundation, Mr Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe has donated relief items worth millions to residents of Oyo State.

Coronavirus – declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 11 March 2020 – is a highly contagious disease that has spread rapidly across the world, claimed many victims and threatened global economies. Following the confirmation of the first index case in Nigeria on 25 February 2020, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 139 cases of COVID-19 as at 31 March 2020, with 8 of these cases in the pacesetter state.

Speaking on the importance of providing social welfare at this time, Mr Tegbe said, “While we encourage everyone to practice social distancing and maintain good personal hygiene – especially the frequent washing of hands – we must remember that the economic and social impacts of this virus will be far-reaching on members of the society. Consequently, it is of utmost importance that we ensure that basic amenities are available to people at this time. I am, therefore, committed to contributing to the socio-economic welfare of the people of Oyo State by extending relief items to households across the state.”

He further stated, “To ensure that the people of Oyo state are properly educated and inspired to act responsibly, I have also sponsored radio and TV programmes emphasizing staying at home as the best course of action to fight this pandemic. I want everyone to know that we are in this together and we must be our brother’s keeper if we will flatten the curve and put an end to the spread of COVID-19 quickly. In light of this, it would be remiss of me not to use this opportunity to wish the Executive Governor of my beloved state, His Excellency, Engr, Seyi Makinde and everyone else battling this disease a speedy recovery.”

Tegbe, while donating these items to residents across the state, emphasized the guidelines of the WHO and NCDC on practising social distancing and maintaining high levels of personal hygiene. He also advocated that the government enforce a state-wide lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Finally, he encouraged citizens of the state to avoid sharing false and unverified information and advised that anyone in need of credible information should text ‘Help’ to either of these numbers on Whatsapp +41 79 893 18 92 or +234 708 711 0839.

Tegbe Foundation was founded by Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe, a Governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general elections. The foundation is committed to contributing to the socio-economic development of the people of Oyo state through timely interventions.

Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who on Monday, tested positive to Covid-19, contacted the disease at a zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, has said that his boss did not contact the disease at the much-talked about PDP unification rally.
The governor’s spokesman, who spoke to Silverbird Television on Tuesday, explained that there was no known incident of Covid-19 as of the time the rally was held.

He said: “The issue of the governor being said to have contacted Covid-19 at the March 18 PDP southwest Zonal Unification Rally doesn’t come to play, because there was no known incident of the virus in Oyo State at that time. Also, the governor didn’t have any symptom(s) as of that time.

“At the time that the rally was held, there was no known case of the Covid-19 and after the rally, Governor Makinde actually put out a message to indicate that if he had got a hint of the existence of Coronavirus in the state an hour to the rally, he would have cancelled the event. He took responsibility for holding the rally.

“So, we can’t afford to politicise the issue of Covid-19. It is beyond politics,” he said.

Adisa, who noted that the only plausible case of exposure that Governor Makinde had to Coronavirus was when he attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on March 19, 2020, a day after the Ibadan rally, said that indeed, all governors who attended that meeting were advised to self-isolate and undergo testing after one of the attendees tested positive to the virus.

He said: “The Nigerian Governors’ Forum had a meeting on March 18 and Governor Makinde joined his colleagues on March 19 for the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting. He had contacts with people that have now tested positive to the virus. So, we should not politicise an issue like this.”
Adisa warned individuals trying to politicise the governor’s case to desist from doing so and look for ways of supporting the efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

The former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who is also the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 general election, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has sent his speedy recovery wishes to Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde having tested positive to Coronavirus.

Makinde who took to his social media handle to announce to the public that he tested positive after he had commenced his 14days self-isolation as directed by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

In a statement released by Adelabu, he commended the governor for taking a bold step to self-isolate to reduce the transmission of the virus while he prayed that God gives everyone strength in these trying times.

The statement reads thus:

Following the announcement that my brother, Oyo State Governor, His excellency Engineer Seyi Makinde has tested positive to COVID19, I want to use this opportunity to wish him a speedy recovery and abundance of health going forward.

His decision to self-isolate in line with government’s measures to reduce the transmission of the virus is right and commendable. May God give us strength in these trying times.

This is a time for us all to shun petty politics, and for all hands to be on deck in order to contain and eradicate COVID19 in our dear state and Nigeria as a whole.

We must support the efforts of government by following the safeguarding guidelines they have provided as this will help reduce the spread of the virus.

The government must also be supported by capable and well meaning indigenes and residents to provide adequate treatment to those who are already infected.

In my personal effort to provide support in these trying times, in addition to various programmes we currently have in place to provide succour to the people which include but not limited to distribution of preventive items like sanitisers, nose masks, hand gloves, palliatives like food, water and minimal cash transfers to the indigents and the needy, we will also be liaising with relevant authorities including the NCDC and UCH to see how we can support their current medical initiatives and crisis management plan.

COVID19 is a global medical epidemic that must be taken seriously by all and sundry, please stay safe and keep others safe by following government guidelines. At this crucial moment, we need not politicise any of our efforts and avoid hate speech as issues bothering on our health concern our lives and we must all be our brothers’ keeper for us all to remain alive and fulfil our destinies. May God help us.

Bayo Adelabu FCA, FCIB

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has tested positive to the coronavirus.

This was revealed by the governor himself through his twitter handle at around 6:05 pm.

Oyomind.com.ng recalled that the governor had earlier announced that he would be on self-isolation for 14days having been in contact with some people.

The governor tweeted “I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is POSITIVE. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate.

“I have designated Prof Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully. Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe.”