Kunle Adelab
-Facilitates food donation to aged, physically challenged
Residents of Ikorodu division have been warned on the importance of staying at home and observe every measure stipulated by the government in containing the spread of the COVID-19 which has now affected more people and spreading to new states in the country.
This warning was coming from the revered royal father, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo.
He said that the entire world is currently being ravaged by the deadly disease and warned that residents should be very careful as the fight against the virus enters critical week.
Oba Kasali gave the warning at his palace in Igbogbo while distributing food items such as rice, yam, garri and bread to residents within the age range of 60 and above and the physically challenged people.
Hundreds of food packs were also taken to about 22 communities within Igbogbo and were shared among residents.
“I want to emphasise that this week that we are in is the most critical of the stay at home directive of the government. We must be careful and ensure that we observe the directive of the governor”, Oba Kasali stated.
“We must observe these measures in our own interest. It is a criminal offense for anybody to breach the directive. Aside from the fact that you are breaching the law, you are also endangering your life by exposing yourself to danger.
“People must comply in their own interest, that of their families and every member of the society too. The virus is very contagious. Once you are infected, you can easily pass it to another person through touching, sneezing or coughing.
While rating the compliance level regarding the lockdown order, Oba Kasali stated that he wasn’t satisfied with the level of compliance by the residents and further appealed to them to adhere strictly to the order.
“Well, I must say that I am not totally satisfied with our people’s response to the stay at home order. That’s why we will continue to appeal to them.
“The stay at home order must be adhere to strictly by our people by not going about.
“I want to again appeal to our people that they should please comply with the governor’s directive and ensure that they observe the social distancing order as well”.
Speaking on the procurement and distribution of food items to people in his kingdom, the royal father described the gesture as manifestation of responses to clarion calls he made to people to contribute towards helping vulnerable people in the society with what to live on.
“What we are seeing here today is the manifestation of the responses by the well-meaning men in our community to the clarion call made to them that they must assist in putting something in place to relieve our people from what they are experiencing now in terms of the effects of the lockdown that the government has put in place to ward off COVID – 19”, he stated.
“People of like – minds and well – meaning individuals have contributed money for food stuffs and procured items that they felt would be useful for people at this point in time in a bid to reach out to most vulnerable people in our community at this critical period.
“We are doing this to support the government because the government cannot do it alone. This is what we believe should be happening at all time.
“People should always make themselves available to compliment government’s effort so that our people can have a livable environment to live in.
While commending the Lagos State Government for providing food support for people to survive during the lockdown, Oba Kasali enjoined residents to understand that government alone cannot provide for everybody and charged other privileged individuals to contribute into the pool.
“I want to appreciate the government for what they have been able to do. They have said it from the onset that they cannot provide for everyone.
“In actual fact, we have not fully explored the potentials in terms of well-meaning individuals that can contribute to what we are doing today.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to those that have not been part of this to do so by supporting the provision of food aid to the vulnerable people in our society during this period”, Adeboruwa appealed.
“Let us be our brother’s keeper. What we are giving out can only sustain a family for a day or two. We want to appeal to those that have not made contribution to do so. This is the time for them to identify with the masses by contributing their own quota to relieve our people of what they are going through.
“I pray that God will fortify all of us and sustain us and bless our country and state. I also pray that He will continue to guide the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and members of his team”, the royal father prayed.
