COVID-19: Gen. Olu Bajowa Provides food relief package for Ikale People
– Steve Ovirih.
Coronavirus disease which index case in Nigeria was reported in February 2020 in Lagos had gone ahead to spread across the country like wild fire bringing in its stride a rate of community transmission record that has not been surpassed in Nigeria for almost a century. In the last count, the country has hit her 2000th record and still counting. While the air and land borders have been closed to prevent people bringing the virus from outside the country, the worst fear about the novel coronavirus, community contagion is staring everybody in the face as 32 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have gone ahead to record index cases and more cases of people who had contracted the deadly virus. While federal government had announced total lockdown in Lagos, neighbouring Ogun as well as Abuja in the wake of the COVID 19 crisis to prevent further spread, majority of the affected states had followed suit with a shutdown and stay at home order which had affected people’s economy so badly. How best does one feel pity for his fellow men and offer assistance in this trying time of economic hardship occasioned by Covid 19? Gen. Olu Bajowa (RTD) offered a template here.
Gen. Olu Bajowa (OFR) , the Jagunmolu of Ikale Land and Ojagbulegun from the source , and his amiable wife Princess Barrister Oluyemi Bajowa, the regent of Ode Ayeka in Okitipupa Local government have set a worthy example by providing a huge COVID 19 palliative response for the people of Ikale Land, cutting across communities such as Igbotako Osooro, Okitipupa and Ode Ayeka, all in Okitipupa Local government area of Ondo state.
Showing a huge gesture of kindness to his people at this challenging time of Coronavirus pandemic, Gen Bajowa RTD, made a provision of food items ( over three thousand bags of rice and beans) nose masks( in excess of six thousand pieces) and financial assistance all running into several millions of naira and had them distributed to the vulnerable across the two major constituencies of Okitipupa. The distribution exercise , a two day project, started at Igbotako on Saturday, the 2nd of May, 2020. To avoid rowdiness and to ensure that the reliefs get to the appropriate quarters , the regent of Ayeka, Princess Barrister Oluyemi Bajowa was on ground to supervise logistics as regards the distribution of the palliatives.
While inspecting the food relief package before they were taken to the different quarters making up Igbotako and handed over to the quarter heads for onward distribution to respective house holds and family heads, the Rebuja of Osooro Land, Oba Gbadebo Bajowa said his brother, the donor Gen Bajowa has shown by this act that you don’t have to be a politician before you stand up and identify with your people in their time of need. He said he is happy and the people of Igbotako will continue to be grateful to Gen.Olu Bajowa for supporting his people.
The first port of call at Igbotako was Okedebi quarters where High Chief John Aderibole received the package on behalf of his people. At Odojomo quarters, 200 bags of rice, 400 pieces of nose masks and monetary assistance to the tune of #200,000.00k was distributed. Collecting the package on behalf of Odojomo quarters, the Oyetoyo of Odojomo, High Chief Ojajuni Oluwole was full of appreciation to Gen. Bajowa, whom he described as a rare philantropist of all time.
The other quarters in Igbotako where the relief package train touched were : Ogungbemi , Akode , Luwoye, Odunwo, Olaoluwa and Liliken Quarters.
The rest were Liha Ladokun/Shogbon, Majokolasan and Idogun Tiboji quarters. The non indigenes resident at Igbotako were equally not left out.
Using this decentralised channel of distributing the relief package , each household making up the quarters of Igbotako Osooro were sure to benefit from the largess provided by Gen. Olu Bajowa. As chiefs from each of these quarters received the palliatives on behalf of their people, they prayed God to grant Gen. Olu Bajowa many more years in robust good health.
Earlier, the regent of Ayeka had presented relief materials to the chairman of Okitipupa LGA, Omoba Abayomi Adesanya, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Marthins Fasusi.
The security personnel in the zone were also not left out. In the same vein, Gen. Bajowa made provision for Ikale royal fathers which were sent to their respective palaces.
In his remarks, the local government chairman, Omoba Adesanya, speaking through his CPS, said Gen. Bajowa has really surprised every one by this gesture , adding that it takes a man with a big heart and unquantifiable kindness to go to this length in helping his people.
While speaking with thepolity.net at his palace, the Abodi of Ikale Land, Oba Babatunde Faduyile thanked Gen.Bajowa for using his personal fund to provide relief materials for the people , noting that this rare gesture is worthy of emulation by all Ikale sons and daughters both at home and in the Diaspora whom God has blessed.
The second leg of the distribution of the palliatives held at the palace of the Lumure of Ayeka on Sunday, the 3rd of May. As early as possible in the morning, representatives of family heads and other Ayeka stakeholders had gathered at the palace. While giving the opening prayer before the distribution of the palliatives, the Liha of Ayeka kingdom, High Chief Babatunde Ayeyowa thanked God for the choice of Princess Oluyemi Bajowa as the regent of the town and prayed God to continue to bless her and her husband, the Ojagbulegun of Ayeka with the enablement to do more for Ayeka kingdom.
In her speech, the regent said God being on her side, she will continue to to do all her best within her capacity to serve her people and put smile on their faces.
For the food items , nose masks and monetary support to get to all the households of the town, they were distributed through the major family heads.
The Lulare family got fifty bags , one hundred nose masks and fifty thousand naira monetary support. Egbe Aya Lulare ( the Lulare wives) also got 60 bags, 120 nose masks and #60,000.
Others who benefitted from the relief package were: Ayenuro family and Ayenuro wives, Akinyomi family and Akinyomi wives, the Holo family and Holo wives, Loni family and their wives as well as the Urhobos and Ijaw communities of Ode Ayeka.
The beneficiaries expressed their appreciation , describing the regent as an amazon, a mother, the Deborah of this generation who is always making the well being of her people her topmost priority.
The regent of Erinje Kingdom , Prince Emannuel Ipinsanmi,while speaking with thepolity.net at Lumure’s palace said he recommended the gesture of Gen. Bajowa and the regent of Ayeka to all well meaning Ikale people and those in government, noting that the best way to give is giving without strings attached just like the one Gen Bajowa and the regent have just done. The Chairman of Ijaw community, Ode Ayeka , Mr. Muleboh Israel said his Ijaw brothers and sisters in Ayeka and even beyond are very appreciative of the regent’s kind gesture which she has decided not to limit to her kit and kin alone.
The regent, Oluyemi Bajowa has this to say, ” the palliatives are provided as a response to help cushion the effect of the lockdown which has affected our people since government’s stay at home order had begun. All I want to advise is that our people should use the nose masks since government has made it mandatory and people should imbibe the habit of hand washing regularly and use sanitizer. It is important for us all to stay safe at this time so that when all this is over , we can all thank God that we survived the scourge.”
