He said he pity those who rely on Buhari’s government in this difficult times.
The measures put in place to help check the spread of covid-19 in the country, is already taking its toll on the poor masses who have been living from hand to mouth even before lockdown was declared by the Buhari administration.
There has been public outcry for relief packages to help cushion the effects of the lockdown, but as usual, Nigeria’s things are always different. Donations have and are still being made, government has also released funds, yet Nigerians are wondering who the beneficiaries of government’s palliatives are.
One particular Buhari supporter from Kaduna State, took to Twitter to express his disappointment at both the State and Federal Government over their handling of relief materials meant to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Kaduna State Government had spent N500 million on food items to be shared to the poor across the State. But Mr Abubakar who said he visited one of the sites where these food items were being shared, was left in shock and had no choice but to shed tears.
I’m sorry for those that depends on govt help. My state announced they bought food items of N200m to distribute to masses. I shade tears as I went there to see. After long a queue, a man with 3 wives 13 children was given 1 sachets of indomie and a cup of rice. Where is the help?
— Abubakar A Aliyu (@AbubakarAAliyu7) April 3, 2020
He said, “I’m sorry for those that depends on govt help. My state announced they bought food items of N200m to distribute to masses. I shade tears as I went there to see. After long a queue, a man with 3 wives 13 children was given 1 sachets of indomie and a cup of rice. Where is the help?”
National Pivot has previously reported that the hunger caused by the lockdown is so severe, that the fear of covid-19 wasn’t enough to stop people from scrambling to get a share of El-Rufai’s food items.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement yesterday, acknowledged the sacrifices Nigerians are making by adhering to Government’s Stay at home directive, but also said the lockdown would continue for as long as possible until it is safe to revise the decision.
“He said, “I wholeheartedly thank all Nigerians for your patience, resolve and strong determination to defeat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
“We realize that today, there will be sons and daughters unable to visit their parents, and elders that are isolated from young ones. And there will be those who live day-to-day, eating as they earn, who face real and present suffering.
“No elected government could ask more of the citizens of the country that elected them than what we today ask of you. But we must ask you – once more – to observe restrictions on movement where they are in place, and follow the instructions of our scientists and medical advisers: stay home, wash your hands, save lives.
“The freedoms we ask you to willingly forsake today will only last as long as our scientific advisers declare they are necessary. But they are essential – world over – to halt and defeat the spread of this virus.”
He also spoke on his government’s commitment to help ease the sufferings of the masses in these difficult times.
He said, “For those who suffer most egregiously, the Government has announced multiple measures to assist: 70,000 tonnes of grain is being released from the National Strategic Grain Reserves for distribution to those in most need; distribution of small cash payments are also being made, and will continue to be made by the federal government in the states and local government areas.
“We ask you to listen and follow public announcements via the mass media for instructions as to how to receive this government support – and learn of more public assistance in the coming days.
“All that the Government is asking you to endure is because nowhere in the world today is there any known way of defeating this pandemic. There is no vaccine. And that means there are choices to be made: between continuing as usual, or accepting the restrictions even when they come with unintended consequences.
“But at this darkest hour, it remains our duty to offer you the full and unvarnished truth: This is a global pandemic. 210 countries and territories across the globe are affected. We cannot expect others to come to our assistance. No one is coming to defeat this virus for us.
“Instead, the defeat of the virus in our country will be in our hands, alone. We cannot wait for others. We can only depend on ourselves now. And so we must – and we will – end this outbreak ourselves as Nigerians, together.”