COVID-19 Lockdown: Warri South Truncates Gov. Okowa’s Palliative Gesture

By  Victor  Umukoro  Kobodokuni
The good intention of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to alleviate the sufferings of Deltans, as his government embarks on the distribution of food items to the less  privileged in the state in the stay at home order to prevent the spread of Corona virus pandemic, met brick-wall in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State recently as many people especially the widows, went home wailing as they unable to get food items.
It was gathered that the food items distribution which was initially done by Warri South Council boss, Hon. Michael Tidi, at the early hours of the day in the secretariat as directed by the state governor, was intentionally moved by the Councilor, Hon. Mofe, in charge of GRA Ward and his team to Nana Model College Playing Ground Warri, Delta State for distribution.
It was learnt that in the process of distribution of the food items, fight ensued were people fell on one another in the bid to get food.

While this drama was going on, some police officers in ‘A’ Division, Warri who got wind of the development came to the scene to save the situation otherwise severe casualty would have been recorded.
It was gathered that amidst the drama, the Warri South Council boss called the Councilor, Hon. Mofe and his team, when he (Chairman) got wind of what was going on in Nana Model College and expressed displeasure on the development.
In a chat with newsmen, Mr. Ojei Johnbull, one of the persons who could not get food items, said the food was not properly shared despite the efforts and arrangements made by the council boss, Dr Michael Tidi to ensure the food went round as directed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He therefore ascribed the blame to the councilor who decided to move the food to Nana Model College which was one of the reasons for this challenge.
He said: “l am surprised at the whole episode, you can imagine people are falling on top one another in the bid to get food item; I mean, it was an eye-sore.”

He said he would have remained at home if he knew that it would turn out to be the way it did. I regret my coming here today.”

He therefore advised the state government in case of next time to set to up an external neutral body of committee to handle the distribution of food items to enable the (food items) get to the intended recipients.  
Yet another person who spoke with newsmen is Mrs. Ejiro Imoohi. 

She expressed bitterness over the manner with which the state government’s palliative was shared in Warri South, adding that although initially the food items were neatly packaged into smaller quantity of basket each according to the number of persons in the units that make up the ward.

She said that as soon as the councilor and his team were about to distribute the food items, some thugs suddenly came to the venue and joined others already in the place and were eager to get theirs and a fight started as they battled to get the food.

Mrs.  Imoohi added that while that drama was going on, the committee saddled with the responsibility of sharing the food with the councilor drove in.

Angered by  what they saw, they intervened by stopping the entire process and began to share the food for themselves, adding that, with this the intended recipients could not get the food. 
Another respondent, Mrs. Mercy Otuedon expressed disappointment over the manner the food was shared, adding that the Councilor and his team are liable for this misgiving.   
She said: “It was because of the way the food was being distributed that led to the dragging which in turn led to fighting and greater percentage of the food was scattered on the ground.”

She therefore advised the state government to always follow up to the latter  when such an assignment is given to the local government area , just as she advocated for punishment for those who may disrupt such a  well planned programme next time to serve  as deterrent to others.

Others who felt bad about the situation blamed the councilor for the whole exercise and appealed to the Chairman, Dr Michael Tidi to rectify the situation as urgently as possible so that those who have not gotten, can get theirs. All efforts to reach the Ward councilor, Hon.  Mofe proved abortive at the time of filling in this report.