The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) on Wednesday, donated the sum of three million naira (3m)for food and for the procurements of essential items to patients of the deadly COVID-19 disease across all the six states in the southwest, including Kwara and Kogi state.
Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, who is also the National Coordinator of the group, said the palliative was aimed at assisting the governments ensuring better treatment for all the patients that have been receiving treatments at the various isolation centres across the states.
Iba Gani Adams stated also that the new measure became imperative following the intervention and initial efforts of members of the sister’s organization in Diaspora, the Oodua Progressive Union(OPU), to donate funds and food items at the first phase of the palliative.
Expressing concern over the rise in figures of the pandemic across the world, Adams, noted that despite all efforts being made by the various governments at easing the lock down in some states, the numbers of COVID-19 cases are still rising by the day.
He, however, urged the government at all levels to look inward, by using the traditional remedy to curtail the spread of the deadly disease as it was done in Madagascar.
The Yoruba leader also informed that the second phase of the palliative was done with the intention to keep faith with the ideology of the group, saying it was the best way to extend the group’s hands of generosity to the victims of the deadly disease in the southwest and beyond
“It all began when members of OPU across all the 87 countries in the world contributed over five million for palliative for victims of COVID-19. That gesture came at a time when the lockdown was at its peak.
The funds were meant for the procurement of essential items, such as food items and other necessities for the patients that have been receiving treatments at the isolation centre’s across the six states, including Kwara and Kogi states”
“So, the feedback we got from the first phase of the palliative was remarkable and it was the success that led to the second phase with the OPC contributing voluntarily across board to make the sacrifice”
Aare explained further that the group had earlier inaugurated the COVID-19 Palliative committe that sees to the distribution of the funds and other essential items.
“The intention is to extend our hands of generousity to patients of COVID-19 that are mostly affected. We noticed also that in the wake of this global pandemic, the Nigerian economy and that of the entire world has been stagnant, leading to the idea of putting in place various palliative measures extended mostly to victims as well as the vulnerable citizens in our country in order to cushion the effect of the ‘stay-at- home’ order of the Federal and state governments.
“Besides, each of our members made the contributions as sacrifice for our people and also for our race, at this difficult moment. It is not as if we are rich, we did it for posterity and that is the reason for raising the funds for the palliative “,he said.
“We are all aware of the present situation in the country, so for a socio cultural group, and a non- governmental organization like the OPC to have contributed that huge amount of money for food and for the procurement of other essential items for victims of COVID-19 at this trying period when the global pandemic is ravaging the world,I think our group has demonstrated a strong desire to impact the lives of our people and also cater to the needs of all our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, especially, in the southwest,Kwara and Kogi
Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of the group, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin said the donation was timely and necessary. He said OPC will be willing to play its roles to the Yoruba in every situation.
“With this rare gesture, we have demonstrated great commitment and unprecedented gesture of charity to humanity. It is on record that the OPU was the first group in the diaspora to extend their hands of generousity to Nigerians.
“And interestingly, the OPC as a group with over six million members in Nigeria has done its part by making significant impact as one of the groups in the country to have donated generously towards alleviating the suffering of the people”, he said.
