As Nigerians continue to groan over the hardship occasioned
by the coronavirus pandemic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey
Onyeama has declared all forms of palliatives being distributed should not toe
political lines.
He spoke on Wednesday, following the commencement of
distribution of food items and provisions to particularly the needy and
vulnerable in the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State by the Kwusike
Foundation, founded by the minister.
Onyeama restated that his distribution of food and medical
palliatives to the Government and people of Enugu State was without political
consideration.
Special Assistant to the Minister, Chief Flavour Eze,
explained that contrary to insinuations by some people that the relief
materials were meant for members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), they
were actually targeted at the poorest of the poor, with special attention to
the orphanages, physically challenged and the old people’s homes.
Reacting to a video, which he said was being circulated in
the social media by some APC members in the State that party people were not
allowed into the Okpara Square, venue of the distribution, last Sunday, the
minister’s aide wondered how the party members could have left their homes to
attend an event they were not invited.
He described as fake news the rumour that party members were
intimidated and assaulted, stressing that the highly restricted function was
attended by representatives of the Enugu State Government and vulnerable groups
and held under a very friendly atmosphere devoid of any bickering since there
was no crowd.
Eze blamed some members of the party in the State for always
labouring to paint the Minister with tar brush before the public.
“All the invited media houses and security agencies were
there. It was a very peaceful outing and we observed all the stipulated
COVID-19 protocols pertaining to social distancing; washing of hands, use of
hand sanitizers and face masks.
“We didn’t invite party people because the palliatives were
not meant for politicians or APC members; they were clearly for the less
privileged people of Enugu State.
“So, I don’t know where they fabricated the story that some
party members were denied access into the venue. May I on behalf of the Kwusike
Foundation, reiterate that what we are giving out to Enugu people is not for
political patronage, hence, could not be based on party or political
considerations.
“In fact, the complete COVID-19 test kit, PPEs and other medical
equipment donated to the State Government were for the benefit of Enugu
people,” Eze stated.
The foundation had at a modest event with highest regards to
the social distancing prescriptions and hand washing by the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC) flagged-off the presentation of items at the Okpara
Square, Independence Layout, Enugu.
Represented by a chieftain of the APC in the State, Deacon
Okey Ogbodo, the Minister stated that the federal government had continued to
do all in its ability to combat the pandemic, noting that the gradual easing of
the lockdown was a clear indication that the efforts were yielding positive
fruits.
He urged Nigerians to continue to show love and accommodate
one another in these trying times, adding that the foundation would continue to
“create smiles on the faces of vulnerable people”, adding that there was no
better way of combating the virus than abiding by highest hygiene protocols.
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