An Ibadan chief, Oloye Adegboyega Adegoke, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to without wasting more time, constitute a committee for Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) palliative and support fund.
Adegoke, who is the Ajia Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, charged Makinde to emulate other governors in the South West region, who had constituted committees for COVID-19 palliative and support fund in their respective states.
He made these declarations while addressing journalists in Ibadan, the state capital on Monday.
DAILY POST gathered that Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) among others had earlier constituted committees that would work in order to cushion the effects of Coronavirus on the people in their states.
But, up till now, Oyo State whose appellation is ‘Pace Setter’ is yet to constitute such a committee.
However, Adegoke while reacting to the failure of the state government under the leadership of Mr. Makinde to constitute such committee, explained that by putting together a committee for the Oyo Covid-19 Support Fund, would make it more open, transparent and encouraging for people to key into it.
Adegoke, who doubled as Executive Director, OES Energy Services Limited, insisted that by doing so, it would go a long way in encouraging more indigenes of the state both at home and in the Disapora to donate to the support fund.
The Ibadan chief, who felicitated with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, other traditional leaders and people of Oyo state on the occasion of this year’s Easter period, noted that in this trying period in the history of the world, people should extend hands of generosity to their neighbours as fingers are not equal.
Adegoke said, “I will like to implore the state governor to constitute a committee for the COVID-19 Support Fund. People have been contributing but it is not as clear as that of other South West states.
“We don’t even know those that are managing the fund, in Osun state there is a full fledge committee, in Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti, it is the same thing, even at the federal level, they have a committee that is managing the Fund but here in Oyo state, we only see the account numbers. It is only the Chief Press Secretary to the governor that is announcing the donations. Is he the only committee member?.
“It is when people know the calibre of people involved that would encourage them to donate more. We need to be sincere, we need to do something that will enable people to believe what we are doing; we don’t need to give room for doubt. The moment your subject doubts you, there is a problem.
“Be open to your subject, be transparent on your actions, let people see you. In respect to the Olodo Infectious Disease Centre, people believe that the place is not ready yet, government should let people know that the place is ready by taking the men of the media on a facility tour, they are the one to disseminate the efforts you are making, you cannot do everything in isolation without carrying the media along. As a leader, you should let your followers know what you are doing, if you don’t allow them to know what you are doing, they will not be able to defend you when and where necessary, so transparency and openness is key “, Ajia Balogun advised.
“Prevention is better than cure and if we all follow all the precautionary and preventive measures put in place by medical experts, we would all come out of the pandemic stronger and would be a thing of the past in no time. I want to appeal to everyone irrespective of their status, position, profession or religion affiliation to let us combat COVID-19 by following simple instructions from medical experts.”
