Economic hardship: Ogun Govt. takes palliatives to mosques, churches

In the spirit of the Easter celebration and the ongoing Ramadan, the Ogun State Government on Sunday continued its palliative distribution across the three senatorial districts of the state to cushion the effect of the current economic challenges on the people.

Governor Dapo Abiodun’s initiative on Friday saw Christians take the palliatives to many churches, while some mosques also benefited from the gesture.

On Sunday and Friday, the three senatorial districts’ churches and mosques shared the palliatives, which included rice.

In Ogun Central Senatorial District, the gift was extended to worshippers at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Ake, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Isale Ake, and the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Ijaiye in Abeokuta South Local Government Area.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the governor for his kind gesture, noting that the palliative was another means of ameliorating the suffering of the people.

The shepherd in charge of the Celestial Church, Ven. Superior Joseph Talon, Mr. Abeeden Hammed, and Mrs. Julianah Adesanya thanked the governor for the gift in separate remarks, overwhelmed by the palliative gesture.

While appreciating the governor for the various interventions, they prayed to God to grant him a successful tenure.

In Ogun East Senatorial District, worshippers at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, C&S, Orisun Emi Alafia, and United Baptist Church in Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government, also benefited from the palliative care.

Speaking after receiving the gift, Mr. Emmanuel Adetunji, Mrs. Adenike Adekoya, and Mr. Oludayo Soyemi described Governor Abiodun as a man who cares about the welfare of his citizens, promising that they would continue to support his government in its determination to take the state to greater heights.

The Bishop of Remo Diocese, Methodist Church Nigeria, The Rt. Rev. Bamidele Ibikunle, described the initiative as a welcome development.

Speaking on Sunday at the Rev. Mellor Methodist Church in Agbowa, Sagamu, Bishop Ibikunle noted that the gesture would go a long way in easing the suffering of the people, particularly those who were not sure of where the food would come from during the Easter period.

“It is an exciting thing to know that our governor is thinking well of the people, and I am happy, especially today, that we are commemorating Palm Sunday.

“We want to thank the governor in a special way for being mindful of his people because times are hard and this palliative will go a long way to ameliorating people’s suffering, particularly people who are not sure of what to eat at Easter, who can now have something on their table to eat with their families,” Bishop Ibikunle said.

Also speaking, the Presbyter and Cathedral Administrator, The Very Reverend Jacob Oluwaseyi Ayedola, acknowledged the hardship in the country and appreciated Gov. Abiodun for extending the gesture to his church members, calling on government at all levels to do more intervention programs to bring succour to the people.

An elder in the church, Sir Teju Ogunjimi, described the palliative as a welcome development, especially as Easter is drawing near.

Some Islamic faithful across the state also benefited from the gesture on Friday.

Speaking during the distribution at the Ijebu-Ode Central Mosque, the Grand Chief Imam, Sheikh Miftaudeen Ayanbadejo, urged the Federal Government to temporarily open the nation’s borders to allow for the inflow of goods to address the current hardship in the country.

Sheikh Ayanbadejo noted that though giving palliative at this point in time would bring short-term relief, opening the borders would make goods available at a reasonable cost.

He said: “I thank His Excellency, Governor Abiodun, for this palliative because there is hunger in the land and whatever the government can do to bring relief is welcome.

“For me, the best thing to do is for the governors to appeal to the President to open the borders for a short time, even if it is for three months, to allow things to normalize. Sending palliatives is temporary relief, but opening the borders will make the difference.”

Speaking after receiving his share of the palliative, a top-ranking official in the mosque, Isiaka Adebanjo, appreciated the governor’s gesture and appealed for continuous distribution to enable it to reach a large percentage of the populace.

At the Ilaro Central Mosque Muslims Community, the Chief Imam of the Mosque, Alhaji Tajudeen Adewunmi, thanked Abiodun for his efforts in bringing succour to the people.

“The hardship in the land is too much, and it is telling on the people. You can imagine a situation where people can no longer afford three square meals per day. It is only God who can come to our rescue.

“Thank God that we have a governor who feels the pulse of the people and is ready to meet everybody at the point of their needs,” the Chief Imam said.

Distribution of palliative to worshipers at the Reverend Mellor Methodist Church, Agbowa, Sagamu, on Sunday, March 24