Sanction govs for hoarding COVID-19 palliatives – Olurode

A professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, Lai Olurode, has advised that governors of the states found to have hoarded and delayed the distribution of the COVID-19 relief materials without rational justification should be sanctioned by the Federal Government and simultaneously by the people with votes.

He, however, argued that looting of such palliatives by hungry, aggrieved and frustrated Nigerians could not be defended.

The don recalled that as part consequences of COVID-19 lockdown, many homes lost their breadwinners and many businesses were forced to shut down.

“Many Nigerians went through untold hardships. A number of Nigerians were touched by the sufferings of the downtrodden and were so moved to contribute in cash and kind toward ameliorating the burden on people.

“Unfortunately, a large number of these goods didn’t reach their desired destinations. So far, the reasons given sounded ludicrous, nauseating, unkind, irrational and wicked.”

The Unilag don wondered “How such items could be kept in warehouses simply because their sharing must coincide with the birthday of a big politician or even because a letter was being awaited from donor agencies”.

He then advised that “Government business must be taken with more seriousness instead of being handled without conscience and utmost absence of commitment and as if it is nobody’s business.

He urged that “It must not be forgotten that timely distribution of such relief materials could have save lives.

“Regrettably, more even died in the process of distributing the hoarded items and in the survival of the fittest that it triggered. The scenes were very ugly and inhuman,” he stated.