SAF intensifies campaign against coronavirus in Delta, visits Ogulagha, Odimodi, Burutu, Obotebe Communities  – The Liberator

Shared Hand Sanitizers, Tap buckets, Liquid Soaps, buckets, face masks

By Binebai Princewill

Niger Delta leading Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), operating under the aegis of Shedrack Agediga Foundation (SAF), has intensified its efforts in reaching out to more communities in the creeks of Delta State to massively campaign against the global pandemic called Covid-19, popularly known as Coronavirus.

Chairman and Founder of SAF, His Excellency, Amb. Comr. Shedrack Agediga who earlier led the team to the waterfront in Warri yesterday before leaving for the communities noted that his NGO is highly disturbed by the spread of the disease globally and the rising figures of positive cases in the country. In an exclusive interview with journalists, the humanist, Amb. Agediga who doubles as the Executive Director (ED), Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) noted that the people from the creeks of Delta, particularly the Ijaw speaking people of Burutu Local Government needs to be sensitized against the dreaded virus. He revealed that the Shedrack Agediga Foundation has been in existence for years, adding that with the wake of coronavirus pandemic globally and Nigeria in particular, the foundation headed by himself met with other critical stakeholders of the Foundation to see what can be done to enlighten and assist the people against Covid-19. In his words: “We have critical areas where our objective is centered on, rural health is part of it, we cannot just keep our personal hygiene in town and be doing self isolation in town, we have to go back to the village and tell them the implication of it and the modalities they should put in place to defend themselves against the virus. “However, those of us that have been empowered with one form of political appointment or the other should be able to go back to our villages to enlighten our people and assist in combating the menace ” In his message to the general public, Agediga has admonished Deltans to stay safe by protecting themselves and communities. However, the items shared to the communities include Tap Buckets, Face Masks, Hand Sanitizers, Buckets as well as Liquid Soaps. The lucky and benefiting communities include Ogulagha community in Ogulagha Kingdom; Odimodi and Burutu communities in Iduwini Kingdom as well as Obotebe community in Umbi Kingdom, all in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. The Liberator Newspaper can report that this is the second batch of the Shedrack Agediga Foundation’s intervention to the rural communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. In each of the communities visited, besides the preventive materials presented to the communities, a special and customized Shedrack Agediga Foundation crested T-shirts and Face Caps was presented to three principal officers of the communities, namely chairman, youth president and woman leader. Ogulagha Community, Youths Reacts To Agediga, SAF After leaving Warri for the creeks in Delta, Ogulagha community was the first place the Shedrack Agediga Foundation, SAF visted. On ground to receive the items brought by SAF were Elder Odeh Alfred, vice chairman of the community flanked by Comr. Okilo Anthony Waterwei, youth president among other members of the community. Speaking on behalf of SAF, Pst. Idowu Seimode, Director of programmes said : “We are here on behalf of SAF, we are here to make our impute in order to curtail the scurge of coronavirus. “This is the taken we have for Ogulagha community, this is our own way of preventing and keeping our communities safe” Community Response “Ogulagha community is really prepared to face this deadly virus, we appreciates Agediga and we promised to use the items judiciously. This disease is deadly, we are thankful to God that it has not gotten to Delta State, we are so prepared. Everyone in Ogulagha community is happy for this gesture. As you can see, both the elders, women, youths and the community is so happy for What Agediga has been doing with his foundation, this is surely another laudable one. We appreciates it ” Elder Odeh Alfred, vice chairman of Ogulagha community stated. “The disease is very deadly and evoke fear in us, what Agediga has done will go a long way in sanitizing our community. As youths, we are very happy.” Okilo Waterwei Anthony, youth president of Ogulagha community asserted The items where received at the Ogulagha community booking house. The story at Odimodi From Ogulagha community, the next destination for the distribution of the preventive materials from SAF tilts to Odimodi in Iduwini Kingdom, Delta State. “As a non governmental organisation, Shedrack Agediga Foundation is highly disturbed by the dangerous spread of the virus, this is our gesture to curtail spread of the virus, we know that it has not gotten to our communities but we must sensitize our people. Our people must stay safe.” Engr. Felix Braboke The encomiums poured on Agediga, SAF Receiving the items from the foundation is Comr. Akin Disi, youth president of Odimodi and its federated communities, he was flanked by other members of his executive and opinion leaders of the community. “We are very grateful to Agediga, we pray that God will continue to bless him and prosper him beyond human imagination.We have already alerted our people and measures have been put in place already, what SAF has done is so wonderful and has added greatly to what we have. We will make judicious use of these items. He has really surprised us as a people. Please greet him for us.” Comr. Akin. Disi. The items where received at Eluwe playground, Odimodi. The Burutu Story At Burutu community, headquaters of the Local Government, receiving the items from the Shedrack Agediga Foundation on behalf of the community were Chief Edwin Dio, Comr. Fakah Solomon, Engr. Aminu Suyei flanked by very many others. Speaking on behalf of SAF before the presentation of the items, Dr. Doubra Okotete had sensitized the people on the dangers associated with the coronavirus. He said the disease has become a global pandemic as Nigeria is not an exception, stressing that SAF is highly disturbed of the prevailing occurrences in the country hence they thought it wise to do their best in reaching out to the people in the riverine communities, particularly Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. The presentation was done at the Burutu Local Government Council Pavilion. Burutu Community, Youths Hails Agediga, Expresses Joy Speaking in similar tune of appreciation, Chief Edwin Dio, secretary general of the community had lauded Amb. Comr. Shedrack Agediga for recognising Burutu with such massive preventive materials. He noted that the people of Burutu community will continue to be proud of him as he prayed for more doors to open for Agediga and his foundation and long life to continue his good deeds towards humanity. “We want to thank the team for coming to our rescue at this critical time, these are very sensitive and preventive items, we want to thank Agediga for this gesture. God will continue to bless him for humanity. Posterity will judge him right. We are very happy and we will use them judiciously.” Chief Edwin Dio asserted. The Burutu community youth president, Comr. Fakah Solomon also speaks on similar issues appreciating SAF. Thrills from Obotebe in Umbi Kingdom Chairman of Obotebe, Mr. Abel Andaowei, Kala-ere Clifford representing the youth wing and other members of the community was on ground to receive the Shedrack Agediga Foundation team. Pst. Seimode Idowu, Director of Programmes, SAF while addressing the people stressed that “One of the cardinal function of SAF is to protect lives of Nigerians, Niger Deltans and Ijaws across board healthwise. This is our token to prevent the spread of coronavirus in our communities and to increase the level of awareness. “We can no longer keep quiet and remain mute, we decide to lead the campaign to our creeks hence we have come to Obotebe, traditional headquarters of Umbi Kingdom in Burutu Local Government. “The items, some should be placed at the entrance of the town.” Pst. Idowu explained to the people on the importance of applying the safety measures provided by medical practitioners. Obotebe reacts to Agediga-SAF on kind gesture

“Since we heard this news, we have been working, although we informed everyone in the community, we cancelled all forms of public gathering. “We have not received anything of such from anybody or anywhere since the pandemic started raging in the World and in Nigeria , we really thank Shedrack Agediga for coming to our rescue, we appreciate him as we are going to make proper use of these items. May God bless him.” Mr. Abel Andaowei, chairman of Obotebe community.

The items where received at the Obotebe community town hall It would be recalled that SAF had earlier in its first batch of intervention to the rural communities had shared same items to Obotobo I & II, Yokiri and Sokebolou communities in Ogulagha kingdom on the 27th of March 2020.

The SAF team was led by Pst. Seimode Idowu, other key members include Engr. Felix Braboke, Dr. Doubra Okotete, Comr. Andaowei Okou, Mr. Tare Frank Otuse, Engr. Duopayor-ebiyor Akemeotubo, Prince Tony Akemeotubo as well as Mss Elizabeth Tonghan that formed the NGOs special team for the day.