By Moses Olafare
The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has on Thursday donated two motorised each to the governors of Akwa Ibom and Borno states to help them in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in their respective states.
Ooni Ogunwusi, represented by his Director of Media & Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare who received the Borno government representatives at the Ooni’s palace described the donations as the king’s token to complement the Borno State Government’s efforts in winning the war against the pandemic. Olafare said train of the Ooni Covid-19 team would have moved to Maiduguri to deliver the King’s message but security challenges and other logistics have caused the delay, thanking the Professor Zulum led government of Borno for coming to pick the equipment themselves just the way Bauchi state has done.
“Like he has done to other states across the country and right at the moment doing so in Akwa Ibom state, I am happy to present these two modular motorised fumigators to the Borno State Government on behalf of the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife who will never fail to fulfill his promises of donating two fumigators each to all the 36 states in Nigeria and the Abuja FCT.
“Ooni’s definition of monarchy includes the progressive willingness and readiness to always support the government and people especially in critical times like this. Arole Oodua strongly believes that the government should not be left alone.” Comrade Olafare said.
While handling the locally made machines to the Borno state government’s representatives, on behalf of the Ooni, Comrade Olafare equally lauded the Borno Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum for his remarkable giant leadership strides in spite of the Boko Harram challenges in his state, wishing him an all-round success.
In her address, a W.H.O Public Health consultant who doubles as technical consultant to the Ooni on his COVID-19 intervention projects, Prof. Olapeju Esimai described the machine as a multipurpose equipment which is easy to use and maintain.
“Firstly, it can be used for the fumigation of our environment against viral and bacteria infections including the rampaging coronavirus while it can equally serve agricultural purposes. For fumigation, all you need to put inside the tank is your Sodium Hydrocloride at a measurement recommended by public health experts and you are good to go.” Prof. Esimai
On his part, the Head of machines and tools section at the Ooni’s palace, Mr. Victor Badejo, explained that the fumigator has two pressure engines, a tank and other components which makes it a very simple equipment to operate.
“For easy assemblage and operation, you will be given a manual for each machines but as you can see, it is a very simple unique fumigator.” Mr. Victor added.
While receiving the machines on behalf of the Borno State Government, Mrs. Olubiyo Victoria from the state’s liason office in Lagos expressed a deep appreciation to the Ooni over the gift.
“We are so grateful and I want to assure Baba, the Ooni of Ife for recognizing the people oriented leadership strides of our governor, His Excellency Professor Babagana Zulum. The government and people of Borno will remain grateful and I assure that the equipment would be used for the purpose that is meant for. we are proud of the king and we pray that God Almighty continue to bless the Ooni of Ife and the entire kingdom of Ile-Ife.” She said.
While the donation exercise was going at Ife, other members of the Ooni Covid-19 Committee were at the government house in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state where two motorized fumigators were being presented to the state governor, Dr Udom Emmanuel.
Welcoming the Ooni’s delegation on behalf of the governor, Secretary to the State Governor and Chairman, Covid-19 Management Committee in Akwa Ibom state, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem thanked Ooni Ogunwusi, describing him as an uncommon creative monarch.
Dr Ekuwem said the governor loves the Ooni for his kindheartedness and holds him in high esteem for appreciating the relevance of the people especially the downtrodden ones in the day-to-day affairs by coming up with innovative projects that have direct impacts on them just like the locally fumigating machines fabricated at his palace in Ile-Ife.
“On behalf of His Excellency the people’s governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Udom Emmanuel, we are very happy to receive this delegation from the Source and from His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife in particular.
“Mr governor sends his deepest appreciations to His Majesty for this show of love to the people of Akwa Ibom. If you go to Ife, you will see that Kabiyesi is a very creative person. He is well connected to the people because he has realized that leadership can not function without the people.
“A royal figure must not disconnect himself from the the people. Go to any palace, you see that people pay homage, animals don’t pay homage, bees don’t pay homage, so, there can be no royalty without the people. For Kabiyesi to be this innovative that people must be alive, Mr governor is very happy that these fumigators the Ooni has been taking across boundaries in Nigeria is a demonstration of his love for the people of this country because only love does that. This is bridge building, and this a matter of love.” He said
