Isoko leaders donate food items to vulnerable, others

Leaders of the Isoko people in Delta state at the weekend donated food items to the vulnerable in the area as palliative to cushion the effects of the lockdown ordered by the state government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The items worth over N15 million were donated to no fewer than 3,000 households in the 19 clans that make up Isoko North and Isoko South local Government Areas respectively, and selected households of Isoko people in Ndokwa East Local Government Area and in Bayelsa state.

Giving out the items to coordinators of the communities at Isoko Unity House, Oleh, Chairman, Isoko South Local Government Council, Mr. Itiako Ikpokpo, said the gesture was in response to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s appeal to local government councils and well-meaning individuals and organizations to assist the less-privileged this period of lockdown.

He said that he partnered his colleague in Isoko North Local Government because they believe that Isoko nation was one irrespective of the political boundaries for administrative conveniences.

Ikpokpo thanked all donors to the course, including the National President of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Kolade Alabi.

On his part, Chairman, Isoko North Local Government Council, Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor, expressed delight on the success of the project, saying that he was glad to be part of the epoch-making event.

He called for further collaboration between the two councils in the interest and unity of Isoko people.

In his contribution, Managing Director of Delta state Oil-Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Askia Ogieh, said that Isoko people were known for their care and generosity and wasn’t surprised at the amount raised from them for the project.

He advised the people to maintain regular personal hygiene and social-distancing while also observing the stay-at-home directive of the government.

In his remarks, President-General of Isoko Development Union, Chief Iduh Amadhe, showered encomiums on the people for their generosity.

He commended the chairmen of the councils for the gesture and called on religious leaders to call for prayers against the pandemic since it had no known cure at the moment.

Welcoming the people earlier, Chairman, Isoko Nation COVID-19 Reponse Committee, Rt. Revd. John Aruakpor, disclosed that the committee had the responsibility of raising funds for the project and identifying the less-privileged in the communities for the distribution of the palliatives.

Aruakpor, who is the bishop of Oleh Diocese of Anglican Communion, thanked the people for their support, adding that he was glad with the success recorded in the exercise.

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He prayed that the pandemic would be a thing of the past in no distant time.

Present at the event were members of the state House of Assembly, Ferguson Onwo and Kenneth Ogba; DESOPADEC Commissioner, Dr. Paul Oweh, business mogul, Eta Enahoro; Sir Matthias Eto, Mr. Duncan Afahokor, Mrs. Catherine Ilolo and Amb. Caroline Usikpedo, among others.