Kunle Adelabu
The Ranodu of Imota, His Royal Majesty Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, has added his voice to the call on government, especially the Federal Government, to provide social and economic supports for citizens who have suffered hardship due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
The royal father declared that the health challenge that is ravaging the entire world is now a pandemic while also warning people to be careful and heed all the precautionary measures issued by the government in their own interest.
Oba Agoro, a first class traditional ruler in Lagos State, spoke with THE IMPACT at his palace on Monday, March 30, 2020.
“The Federal Government (FG) has mentioned something in this regard, but we are waiting for the details. The FG has issued directive in that respect and as an accountant, it is the details that we are waiting for.
“The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Minister for Finance have both spoken about the government’s plans to tackle the effect of the economic effects on the country and citizenry. It is for the government to now give us details on how they plan to get the package to the grassroots so that it will benefit common people.
“They are aware that stopping people from going to work and not engaging in economic and social activities would involve some economic hardship. We want FG to work on the details of its plans”, the plain-spoken monarch stated.
He appealed to residents of Imota, Ikorodu Division and Lagos in general to abide strictly with the government’s directives and take necessary precautionary directives by washing their hands regularly, keep social distance and stay at home until government states otherwise.
“All the directives issued by the state government are for our safety”, the monarch said.
“It is only when we have a healthy workforce that we can have a wealthy nation
“Coronavirus has turned pandemic. It has left the state of epidemic. All the continents in the world are now experiencing it. That’s why we have to be careful here in Africa because we don’t have the wherewithal to deal with it like developed nations.
“It is now becoming a big problem even for the advanced countries. That’s why we have to follow all the guidelines issued by the government so that we can have a healthy nation.
“Just this morning (Monday), it was announced that we have recorded 111 cases in the country with Lagos State accounting for highest number of cases. The virus is here with us”, Ranodu stated.
“This virus does not know if you are rich or poor. It is important that we follow all the directives.
“We must wash our hands regularly, sanitise our environment, observe lockdown as directed by the government and ensure that we distance ourselves from one another.
“I am pleading with everybody in Imota, Lagos State and Nigeria in general to adhere strictly to the precautionary measures.
“It is even a serious matter of concern to us (traditional rulers) because no king wishes that his reign should be infested by pandemic.
“We are shouting and begging the people in our area to sanitise themselves and go by the rules of the government. May Olodumare safe us from this pandemic”.
Speaking on the efforts by the traditional rulers in the division to sanitise their respective domains in traditional ways, Oba Agoro stated thst traditional rulers in various kingdoms within the division have commenced necessary rites to tackle the ravaging virus traditionally.
“We started doing necessary traditional rites in Imota yesterday (Sunday) and it is going to continue for the next three days. We are going to be doing what our ancestors did in those days to ward off this type of epidemic disease”.
