Chief Sunny Onuesoke, a public affairs commentator, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on the lockdown order by the Federal Government to curtail the spread of COVID-19, palliatives and how Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is leading the battle against the deadly virus. Excerpts:

Many Nigerians have called to question the Federal Government’s distribution of N20,000 to poor people to cushion the effects of the lockdown. It is said that the modalities for the distribution is shrouded in secrecy. What is your take on that?

One unfortunate thing about this All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government is their penchant for telling lies and spewing media propaganda hence, they cannot be trusted. How many poor Nigerians have you seen acknowledged the receipt or alert of N20,000 from the federal government? Coming to say they have started the distribution of N20,000 to poor Nigerians without any single proof to it is a big lie. This is another opportunity to loot our national treasury even at a time when the entire world is going through a very difficult ordeal as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the criteria used in arriving or ascertaining the poor and vulnerable? As a community development expert, I can categorically say that the federal government does not have a database to define the poor and vulnerable across Nigeria because most of them don’t even have a bank account not to talk of BVN. It is just an avenue to loot and siphon the national treasury for personal gain and aggrandizement. If truly the federal government is sincere about social palliative to cushion the effect of the lockdown, they would provide 24 hours electricity with subsidised or free tariff for the people. You ask people to stay at home without electricity and the enabling environment to comply with such order. Even if they cannot order the power company to supply electricity free for the period of the lockdown, a responsible government would double effort to ensure 24 hours electricity during the period of the lockdown. For example, having refrigerators and electric stoves is crucial for good health in time like this. Without electricity, food cannot be refrigerated or frozen. Buying and storing food in bulk is not an option.

There have been reported cases of brutality by security agencies since the lockdown began. In Delta state, a young man named Joseph Pessu was gunned down by some soldiers enforcing the lockdown. How best do you think this can be addressed?

I equally condemned any act of brutality by men of the Nigerian army in their effort to enforce the stay at home order. The military ought to have carried out this noble task with high sense of civility and restraints. Overtime, there have been cases and report of army brutality and violation of human rights whenever they are called upon to maintain public harmony and in most cases, nothing has been done about that. I think it is high time the federal government and the military high command look into these cases and ensure that culprits of such brutality be made to face the full wrath of the law and that should serve as a deterrent to others. What is expected of them in enforcing the lockdown is professionalism, restraints and tact, not forgetting the fact that we are not at war; it is a stay at home order. No doubt all hands must be on deck in the fight against the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 but we must go about it with tactfulness.

As a chieftain of the PDP in Delta state, how will you assess the efforts made so far by Governor Okowa in dealing with the issue?

The governor has been proactive in the steps he has taken so far and with that, the state has not recorded a single case of anybody testing positive. He ordered a lockdown in the state which has greatly helped in ensuring that the virus is not spread across the state. Also, the establishment of food bank as a palliative for ordinary Deltans has shown that the governor is not just a listening governor but also a governor with empathy who understands and can relate with the feeling and plight of the people. Aside putting the state on lockdown, there are fully equipped isolation Centres across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Lastly, what is your message to the people of Delta state?

I want to commend Deltans for their sacrifice and compliance with the lockdown order. Though it is uncomfortable for many people, I want to assure them that the lockdown is for the best interest of all of us as it is the best option to check against the spread of the virus and such time calls for sacrifice from all of us. Let us continue to cooperate with the Delta state government ably led by Governor Okowa. Let us obey the state regulation and ensure we play our role of social distancing, practicing daily hygiene and washing of hands frequently. All hands must be on deck to quickly kick out COVID-19 from the country.
Let me also commend the state government in directing all appointees to forfeit their one month subvention to their offices as a contribution to the funds to provide palliatives to the people, No sacrifice is too big at this moment in ensuring the safety of our lives.
On a final note, let me use this medium to call on security personnel at the state borders to ensure strict compliance of the state government’s directive not to allow movement in and out of the state. They should also desist from any act that would jeopardise the effort of government in curtailing the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. They should also put a human face in dealing with citizens who may for one reason or other violate the lockdown order.
https://www.independent.ng/locking-nigerians-at-home-without-electricity-is-evil-onuesoke/

what about without palliatives

Yeah it's evil, had you PDP done well with the light situation in this country, we wouldn't be where we are now..... PDP doesn't have the moral standard to criticize APC as regards light... I'm not a supporter of any politician or political party, just stating the obvious.

still blaiming PDP after five years

whemmytopsy:
Yeah it's evil, had you PDP done well with the light situation in this country, we wouldn't be where we are now..... PDP doesn't have the moral standard to criticize APC as regards light... I'm not a supporter of any politician or political party, just stating the obvious.

Very correct sir

hisexcellency34:
still blaiming PDP after five years

I am not a supporter of any political party, PDP doesn't have the moral right to criticize APC when it comes to power, They had the opportunity to do better...