Monarchs in Yakurr local government area of Cross River State have condemned the attitude of the federal government over the release of palliative and relief materials to people in the area.
Speaking separately to DAILY POST, via phone on Tuesday, the Paramount Rulers of Mkpani, Obol Lopon of Mkpani, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Obol Sunday Obono Okoi and Paramount Ruler of Ugep, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng lamented the attitude of the federal government.
“We have not received any palliative or relief materials of any kind from the federal or state government in our areas in spite of the sit at home order. We have tried to contain the situation, to see how far we can prevent COVID-19 from coming in here.
“We have preached to our people the need to maintain good personal hygiene, washing of hands regularly, distancing themselves from social gatherings, ensuring that they have their nose mask in place and remain indoors.
“We understand the challenges we have at the moment but the risk involved makes us obey the directives of the government of the day yet nothing to show. However, we are doing our possible best irrespective of minor violations, these regulations are properly obeyed or maintained” the Monarchs said
The Paramount Rulers of Mkpani, Obol Lopon of Mkpani, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Obol Sunday Obono Okoi said “There was a group of people that came to my Palace and said that the federal government want to give palliatives to some people, N5, 000 per family, that was last Tuesday but none of my subjects has told me that they have collected any money, nobody has told me that
“We have not received anything from the State government and my people are complaining that they are not allowed to go out to the market, most of them who normally travel out to buy foodstuffs cannot do that, yet no relief materials from government, they cannot do their business and we are pleading with the government to intervene so that the people can get something to eat” he stated.
The Paramount Ruler of Ugep, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng who is also the Paramount Ruler of Yakurr local government area said “We have not collected anything in the form of palliative, not to my knowledge. However, we have tried our best to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread to Ugep.
“We have put up some measures, two committees were set up, a local government committee and an enforcement committee made up of a 15 man team that enforced the government’s directives including no marriage, no wedding, no burials, for now, these are the measures we have taken. We also stopped markets in the area and no food from government” he stated.
