Engr Oyedele Hakeem Alao (OHA), the Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate in the Oyo state governorship election in 2019, has called for sobber reflection and restriction on the outbreak of Corona Virus (Covid-19) which has been having a devastating toll on all.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the AD chieftain said the Covid-19 pandemic should not be politicised at all, calling for the COVID-19 screening of the governor’s cabinet members, including all his aides and all his close associates.
He also wished Governor Makinde a very quick recovery and “an opportunity to learn from our mistakes”.
The statement below:
Of a particular note at this point in time is the Covid-19 status of the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you pull through this difficult time. Your healthy life is crucial to the attainment of a greater Oyo State we all crave for. While wishing you a very quick recovery, it is also a season to learn from our mistakes. Governor Makinde should have taken more seriously earlier the Covid-19 epidemic by isolating himself when he returned from the Florida Business Forum he attended recently and by abstaining from the last PDP unification rally in the state capital, Mapo, Ibadan. The Covid-19 pandemic should not be politicised at all! It is a serious matter —a matter of life and death— not to be trivialized at all!
With the Corona Virus positive status of Governor Makinde at the moment, it would, therefore, make sense to subject all the governor’s cabinet members to Covid-19 screening, including all his aides and all his close associates.
This is an unprecedented time in the history of humanity, which calls for empathy, humility, sober reflection and restriction. The Covid-19 epidemic is having a great negative impact on the health of our loved ones, the businesses we rely upon, the health of the global economy, and the way we live our daily lives for survival. As a state, the Nigerian nation and the world at large are sure seriously under threat.
There is no better way to handle this situation than to adhere strictly to all the WHO-supported health workers precautionary measures already in circulation, particularly the stay-at-home approach, to curtail the likely uncontrollable spread of the disease as we all engage in sober reflection to re-position the way we lead our lives.
Yes, governments at all levels in Nigeria, especially my state, Oyo, should acknowledge that this is an emergency situation that needs 100% attention of all the state governors and President Muhammadu Buhari in the provision of health facilities and food supply. This situation should be viewed as if we were at war. President Muhammadu Buhari’s last speech on the epidemic was commendable. However, we need to pull through the more to reach out to the majority of the mass of our people.
During wars, food stockade and provision is very central to avoiding extermination. Our leaders should do more to relieve our people. Policies must be effected now to control prices of commodities and achieve food security for our people to sustain themselves throughout this moment. Where there are curfews and outright lockdowns, the political, religious, traditional and business leaders and other philanthropists should come to the aid of our people, particularly in the area of food and other essential needs supply. Social distancing and self isolation can only work for Nigerians if governments provide basic sustenance for the already deprived masses. We pray this period will be over soon.
As we appreciate all the foreign and local donors, including notable Nigerians and companies, who have donated cash and relief materials to cushion the effects of the Covid-19 War, as individuals and corporate organizations, we need to do more for our people as a comprehensive functional social security system is still lacking in our land.
In the last few weeks, we have seen great kindness, inter-generational support and solidarity and remarkable fortitude. It is during times like these that courage, generosity and resilience make a difference. Our good people of Oyo State, let us strive hard to survive this difficult moment as better days are ahead for us all.
While effort is in top gear by Engr Oyedele Hakeem Alao (OHA) to support our people at the grassroots and should there be a need for total lockdown of the state, we will reach out to the state government through the Oyo State Covid-19 Endowment Fund Account which has just been released by the state government.
