Members of the Ijaw Welders and Fitters Association, Delta State have appealed to the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to review the two weeks extension of the stay-at-home order so as to ameliorate the suffering of Deltans amid the global Coronavirus pandemic.
Chief (Engr.) George Timiyan, the Miyenkeremowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom and Chairman, ljaw Welders and Fitters Association, Delta State, said on Thursday in a Press Statement on behalf of members of the Association that like majority of Nigerians all over the country, most of their members survive by means of daily job engagements.
According to him, they are not sure that the palliatives such as supply of foodstuffs being given out by the State Government will be sufficient enough to reach every Deltans, especially those tucked away in the riverine communities of the State.
“We really want our amiable Governor to look into this situation critically because those that do not have hope of taking care of their families can become sick through hunger and hypertension and can die faster than those infected by the coronavirus”, he said.
He added that; “We also want our able governor to know that a hungry man is an angry man. Many Deltans are truly frustrated due to the two weeks extension. In addition, the violent attitudes of security officials are not helping matters. It is on record that since the lockdown enforcement, security officials have killed about 18 Nigerians across the country than the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed roughly 12 persons as at Wednesday, April 15, 2020”.
He made it clear that; “We, the riverine people living in coastal communities do not want to protest or cause social unrest. Instead, we just want the Governor to review and relax the lockdown extension in such a way that will give room to our members and the general public to earn a living”.
He expressed the hope that the Governor will listen to the cries of Deltans as well as seek for interactive ways with Deltans to handle COVID -19 outbreak in the state, saying that; “We know very well that our Governor is a listening person”.
