Chairman , Umudike Farms Limited and Hotel De Espana
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hief Ambrose Elofu-Dike,The Chairman of Umudike Farms Limited and Hotel De Espana,Asaba has thrown his weights behind Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s two-week extension of the lockdown order aimed at checking COVID-19 spread in the state and has appealed for calm over the recent protests in Sapele-Delta State.
Elofu-Dike, made the appeal in a telephone chat with Grassroots Publishers online , however he condemned the alleged shooting of one of the protesters by security agents and called for the arrest and prosecution of the culprit(s).
He said that the arrest and prosecution of trigger-free Police Officer would serve as deterrent to others. While noting that the lockdown has caused untold hardship on the people, the Farmer and Hotelier pointed out that the long-term benefits of the stay-at-home order is to protect the citizens from contracting the deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19).He explained that authorities at all levels of government are making frantic efforts to get palliatives to the poorest of the poor.
“No doubt, the lockdown has caused difficulties and inconveniences for many citizens but in these trying times, it takes courage for our elected leaders to adopt global best practices by extending the lockdown so as to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus disease and save lives.
“As our amiable Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said, our common objective is to contain the spread
of the Coronavirus and to provide space, time and resources for an aggressive and collective action while ongoing
comprehensive public health measures including case identification, testing, isolation and contact tracing capabilities
are intensified.
“No doubt, the lockdown has caused many inconveniences for millions, especially for our daily wage earners and many
others in the informal sector but for a disease that ravages with no guarantee of cure, and the fact that life has no
duplicate, staying at home to curb its spread is a most reasonable imperative.
“Too many lives are being lost and far too many families are going through deep grief caused by Covid-19;all over the
world, while the Delta State government weighs possibilities of making things better, we should all strive to
appreciate the deep seriousness of the issue.
“Nonetheless, warnings about social distancing, hand-washing and other preventive measures given by relevant state and
federal authorities deserve our adherence.
“These are trying times, palliatives and sacrificial giving from government, the private sector and individuals can make
things easier. Importantly, we all need to support efforts being made by the federal and state authorities including the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) towards curbing Corvid-19 and saving our people’s lives,” he stated.
“It is regrettable that we have four cases in Delta.It is unfortunate though, that one of the victims died shortly
after. May his soul rest in peace.”
Elofu-Dike, however, expressed what he described as “discriminatory” manner the federal government was sharing
government’s palliative to cushion the effects of the stay-at-home order.
“We at Hotel de Espana in its entirety, the Federal Government’s discriminatory manner of allocating more of the
palliative money to the North to the detriment of the Niger Delta States that contribute 90% of the country’s revenue.
“We further urge every Delta sons and daughters to maintain the sit-at-home order to avoid the spread of the disease and
possibly contracting it he added.
