Lockdown: Bashorun Askia Foundation donates food items to Isoko Nation

…DONATES N500K TO ISOKO COVID-19 RELIEF FUND

In a bid to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic Lock Down on the indigent and vulnerable people, the founder of Bashorun Askia Foundation, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, Wednesday donated sundry food items to all the 22 clans of the Isoko Nation.

The event which took place at the Isoko Unity House, Isoko South Local Government Area, had in the attendance the chairman of Isoko North Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, the chairman of Isoko South Local Council, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo, the President General of Isoko Development Union (I.D.U), High Chief Idu Amadhe, and the Presidents-General of the different kingdoms in Isoko.

The palliatives which range from Cartons of Indomie Noodles, Tubers of Yams, Bunches of Plantain, non cholesterol Vegetable Oils, Bags of Rice and Bags of Garri, were handed over to the President General of Isoko Development Union, who further distributed them among the Presidents General of various kingdoms to take to their different clans.

Handing over the item, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, said the palliatives are geared towards easing the suffering of his people following the lock down, adding that his foundation had earlier distributed over Six Thousand Hand Sanitizers in different markets across the Isoko Nation before the lockdown.

“You would recall that this strange plague, the pandemic of Covid-19 has been with us for a while, travelling all the way from Wuhan in China, and the government has been doing so much to contain and curtail the spread; which necessitated our governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to direct that our people in Delta state stay at home so that we can stay alive.

“Am aware that haven given that instruction, and with the level of compliance of all Deltans, there are certain fallout that can be associated with that kind of lockdown. I do know we have persons who survive on day-to-day business activities, and we have those that are completely vulnerable within our various communities.

“Before the lockdown, my foundation, Bashorun Askia Foundation, have distributed over six thousand hand sanitizers at various market across our land, and also sensitize them, but we do not want to end there because we have discovered that with the lock down, people need to be provided with palliatives to save them from too much suffering.

“It is in recognition of this fact, that our people are hungry particularly the vulnerable ones, the very less privilege in our midst that our foundation decided to provides some palliatives.

“I want to put it on record that this is not political at all, and that is why I am not calling the party chairmen, or party women leaders, or whatever leaders within the party spectrum to be here. This is about the Isoko people in Isoko nation, and because it is for Isoko nation it knows no boundary of Isoko North and South because am aware that we have clans of Isoko in other local government, and indeed in other neighbouring state of Bayelsa.”

Bashorun Askia, also said he has made all arrangement with the IDU President for an even distribution of the palliatives, so it can get across to the needy. To this end, he gave the sum of N20,000 to the 22 Clans of Isoko for the purpose of transportation of the items to their various Communities for distribution.

At the same time, Bashorun Askia donated the sum of N500,000 to the Isoko Nation Committee on Relief Materials on Covid-19 headed by the Bishop of the Oleh Diocese of the Anglican Church, Bishop John Aruakpor.

He also promised to, in a short while visit all the Orphanage Homes in Isoko Nation to present Food Items to them.

Responding to the kind gesture of the Bashorun Askia Foundation, the chairman of Isoko North Local Council, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, said “Those of us that are deeply involved in enforcing the lockdown and monitoring, we know what this involves.

“I want to say that, what our elder brother, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, has done today is wonderful. But you also recall that he has been doing great things even greater than this before now. Even before now, we know he was going to do something of this nature. We pray that the good Lord will continue to bless and strengthen him.”

Also responding, the chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo, called on other well meaning sons and daughters from Isoko to emulate philanthropic gesture of the Bashorun Askia Foundation.

Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the President General of Isoko Development Union, Chief Idu Amadhe, said the palliatives are meant for the less privilege in the various communities, and not items to be distributed among political party members.