By Steve Oni, Ilorin
After about a month that President Muhammadu Buhari had announced the total lockdown of Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital Territory and many governors had followed suit in their respective states due to the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, the National President of Oodua Progressives Care Initiative (OPCI), Dr. Maruff Olarewaju, has called on President Buhari to relax without further delay the order in view of growing hunger among the populace, particularly the downtrodden, saying extension of lockdown period should never be contemplated again.
OPCI President said: “Hunger was on ground before the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic, and now with the virus, the situation has been compounded. Hardly can an average Nigerian survive without going out for their daily businesses and other activities.
“To continue locking down these kinds of people for more than a month will be tantamount to another virus that may be greater than coronavirus which may lead to unrest and anarchy which should be avoided.
“It is an undisputable fact that Coronavirus (covid-19) is spreading like wildfire globally, and part of the measures taken by many countries affected by this pandemic disease was lockdown of which our dear country Nigeria was not an exception.
“But it is also indisputable that Nigeria as a country can’t be compared to Asia, America or any European countries in terms of security, economy, development and social amenities, Nigeria is far behind.
“America has successfully completed disbursement of 1,200 dollars to her citizens as palliative which is equivalent to N500,000, while Nigeria is still struggling, deliberating, running from pillar to post on how to share N20,000 for her own vulnerable citizens for good four months. As a matter of fact, virtually everyone now is vulnerable after a month lockdown. And government must know that a hungry man is an angry man. Time to unlock the people is now.
“We can’t run away from the fact that most robbery cases now arose from hunger. The one million boys ravaging Lagos State and ibadan in Oyo state are a result of hunger. Do we need to run away from bicycle and be hit by trailer? No.
“Nigeria government should enforce the use of face masks and hand gloves instead of lockdown extension, and those who fail to comply with it should be arrested and prosecuted by the appropriate agencies.
“It will be difficult for government to feed people of over 200 million according to the SGF, then if government can’t discharge her responsibility by taking care of all her citizens during lockdown as now the case, then people should be allowed to go and search for their daily bread before hunger knocks them down completely at home.”
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