Covid-19  Protest in Delta: Omo-Agege Steps In, Appeals for Calm

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has appealed for calm over protests in Sapele, Delta State against the state government’s two-week extension of the lockdown occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic

Senator Omo-Agege who is representing Delta Central at the Upper Legislative Chambers also condemned, in strong terms, the alleged shooting of one of the protesters by security agents  while calling for the arrest and prosecution of the culprit (s).

According to him, this will serve as deterrent to other trigger-happy security men. While noting that the lockdown may have caused  difficulties and strain on the people, the lawmaker, however, pointed out that the long-term benefits of the stay-at-home order   is in the interest of all as it is meant to protect  citizens from contracting the deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19).

He explained to his constituents that all relevant   authorities at all levels of government are making frantic efforts to get palliatives to the poorest of the poor.  Omo-Agege  recalled that around 1919 when the population of the area now known as Nigeria was only a fraction of what it is today, not less than half a million people died of a virulent global influenza pandemic brought by overseas ship passengers into coastal areas from where it spread elsewhere.

“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 President Buhari and governors, including Governor Okowa of Delta State have 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.”

Senator Omo-Agege who recently doled out palliatives to every household in Delta Central Senatorial zone amounting to N85M urged his constituents to maintain peace, stressing that government was committed to addressing their concerns. In a stement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yomi Odunuga , the deputy Senate President expressed  worries that too many lives were being lost, a development that has caused serious grief to  many families..

He added: “Too many lives are being lost and far too many families are going through deep grief caused by Covid-19; 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

Recall that Omo-Agege who recently doled out N85M palliatives targeted at reaching various households in Delta Central  Senatorial zone had stated that the move was to help cushion the effects of the covid-19 on his constituents. “There are 85 wards in the eight local government Areas of Delta Central. This translates to Seventeen Thousand(17,000) households in the senatorial zone.”, Odunuga added.