By Eseoghene Emuke
In a bid to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak, Mr. Matthew Omonade, the Senior Special Adviser on Legal and Constitutional Matters to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has donated N400,000 relief support fund for the elderly in Delta State.
Omonade said the fund though small is targeted at 100 persons between the ages of 60 and above to ameliorate the suffering occasioned by outbreak of the novel Coronavirus and partial lockdown of business and other activities in the state.
Delta is among the states in the country yet to record any case of the disease but the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, had ordered closure of markets and other business activities to curb the spread of the virus.
Omonade, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the gesture is apolitical and called on Deltans irrespective of their political or religious colouration to support the ‘man next door.’
The constitutional lawyer posited that the fund will be distributed to the beneficiaries drawn from all the wards that made up Ughelli North.
The Omo-Agege’s SSA also called on the state government to establish a relief support fund especially for the vulnerable persons in the state amidst the lockdown.
“In view of the directives of the Executive Governor of Delta State, which is to take effect from on the 29th and 1st of April, 2020, it is time for all of us to show our humanness.
“Humanity simply means helping others at times when they need that help the most. There can never be such time, other than now.
“There are a lot of our brothers, sisters and senior citizens who genuinely will not be able to sustain themselves for the first two weeks. They need our help, one way or the other”, Omonade, in a statement announcing the donation stated.
According to him, N400,000 support fund will be distributed to Deltans of ages of 60 years and above in Orogun Ward 1, Orogun Ward 2, Ogor, Agbarha and Evwreni all in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
He posited further, “While I expect the State government to put up measures in place that will help reduce the sufferings of our people, I’m calling on all Deltans of means, politicians, businessmen, business women, Pastors and Imams to rise to the occasion, by extending help to persons in need around us.
“In the light of the above, I will make the sum of #400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) available to support ONE HUNDEED (100) persons between the ages of 60 years and above in Orogun Ward 1, Orogun Ward 2, Ogor, Agbarha and Evwreni all in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The following persons shall help write the names of the 20 indigent senior citizens in their respective Wards: (1). Orogun Ward 1- Mr. Alexander Onemu- 0815946 4647
“(2). Orogun Ward 2- Emmanuel Onowakpo -0807 177 0871, (3) Ogor – Prosper Ajero -0706 096 2911, (4) Agbarha – Mrs. Ejenavi Justina -0706 429 9889 and (5). Evwreni – Mr. Onome Morrison -0806 434 9097
“The funds will be made available Thursday (today), March 27th, 2020, to enable them buy some food stuffs, no matter how little.
“You may not have money to give, you still can share rice, beans, garri, fish, yam or anything consumable with somebody that is genuinely in need.”
He, however, appealed to Deltans and all Nigerians to support government at all levels in their efforts to curb the spread of the disease across the country.
