COVID-19: Toyin Abitoye donates foodstuffs to constituents

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By Mary Agidi

As part of his efforts to give back to the society that produced him, an Ondo-born United States of America Doctor, Olutoyin Abitoye has put smiles on the faces of his people in Ipele kingdom, Owo Local Government area of Ondo state by sending palliative items.

The gesture, tagged ‘Abitoye Family’s Palliative’, which was carried out by his friends on his behalf, was handed over to the Head of each quarters in Ipele town in Owo Local Government area of Ondo state, after a royal welcome  by the Olupele-in-Council.

The gesture was to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on his people as he donated foodstuffs to about 1,000 households, both indigenes and non-indigenes, irrespective of the political parties they are affiliated with.

Abitoye who spoke with The Hope  online, affirmed that one’s acquired resources that weren’t channelled into helping others were useless,  especially in a time like this, hence, the reason he decided to reach out to his people from the little he had.

He called for an emergency approach that would directly put food on the tables of Nigerians during lockdown, saying his contribution was just a drop in the ocean considering the situation of things with Nigerians.

”It is hard to fathom the extent at which a token such as the little we have provided can go in terms of providing a meal for a family. Though, this is just a drop in the ocean with regards to what our people need to thrive, a more sustainable and comprehensive programme is required,”He said.

Abitoye, therefore, advised Nigerians to heed the government’s directives on how to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that “bad economy is reparable, but lost human is not recoverable”.

He noted that over four million confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been recorded globally, noting that USA’s projection by next Friday was that, the number of deaths would surpass 100 thousand, reason Nigerians must adhere to preventive directives.

The US-based Doctor assured that, it is guaranteed that mankind will eventually beat the virus; but stressed the need for individuals to be patient, deliberative and cautious in our daily lives and activities until then.

His words: “This huge number is obviously only a fraction of the true amount of those infected. But what is more striking is the number of those that have died in such a short period of time.

“I honestly believe both the federal and state governments are doing the best they can, given the resources within their reach. Remember this is a pandemic in the sense that it’s affecting every part of the world at the same time and it came on suddenly and unexpectedly.

“Obviously most governments all over the world and not just Nigeria could have done better to contain the outbreak at the outset and to mitigate the spread. But most governments do mean well and are doing their best.

“The expectation is that these leaders’ reaction to the pandemic is led by science and they in turn are well advised by scientists who are experts in this field”.

In his reaction, the Acting Olupele of Ipele kingdom, High Chief Raji Sanni Olujashe appreciated the gesture and prayed for the donor, saying his maganimity would be remembered by posterity.

Hon. Dairo Tunji, who coordinated the distribution on behalf of the donor, affirmed that about 1,000 households benefited from the gesture and commended the donor for his generosity.

Mr. Akinrogbe Olatunde, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the area, said Abitoye had really made many people because they weren’t expecting the gesture from somebody like him who  is not a political office holder. He, therefore, called on other well-to-do sons and daughters of Ipele to emulate the gesture and give back to their fatherland this season and not wait till election period.

Some beneficiaries, including Mr. Momoh Jimoh representing the Ebira group in Ipele, and an elderly woman, Mrs. Margret Olotuyemi, lauded him for his passion towards his people, and for remembering them in a time like this, despite not be in Nigeria.