OYOGIST NEWS – Thousands of residents in Sapele, Delta State, yesterday, grounded the timber town in protest, demanding an end to the lockdown extended by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the state.
The governor had in a broadcast on Tuesday, announced the extension of the 14-day lockdown which began on April 1, for another two weeks and imposed a dusk to dawn curfew.
In defiance of the order, women in their thousands took to the streets of Sapale early 7:30a.m., demanding an end to the lockdown.
Chanting, “We no go gree o, we no go gree,” others chanted, “freedom, freedom.”
The women in their thousands were joined by other residents of the town, including artisans, tricycle and motorcycle riders and others.
“We prefer to come outside and die than to be locked indoor. We have stayed indoors for two weeks, we can’t go to the market, we can’t go anywhere, we are hungry, we will not accept this,” Madam Tina Akpometiro, one of the women leaders told Vanguard.
Another woman, who introduced herself as Mrs Oke James, said, “We are hungry and we don’t have food. Let them allow us to go out and fend for families. We want to go back to our normal lives, we are tired of sitting at home with nothing to feed our families.”
A tricycle rider, who identified himself as Jonah Ameh said, “Though the steps are right, we are tired of not being able to fend for our families and want an end to the lockdown.”
Others, who spoke were Sapele-Okpe Community leader, Dr. Vincent Ekariko, and Mr Aderopo Peters, a doctor, who demanded immediate release of food items, saying Deltans are hungry.
The Sapele council chairman, Eugene Inoaghan, who tried to pacify the crowd with loads of security men was openly rebuffed, with the crowd chanting, “We want freedom, we want freedom.”
However, there was pandemonium when the chairman left, with the crowd openly confronting security men with stones, an action that led to burning of tyres and wood.
….This is no time to oppose efforts to stop coronavirus spread — DSG
Reacting to the protest, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said this was not the best time for those opposed to government to pitch the people against government decision on how best the Coronavirus pandemic could be defeated.
Aniagwu said the struggle was not between people and the government, adding that the struggle was between the government and the people on one side and Covid 19 on the other side.
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Urging the people to continue to cooperate with the government in the fight against Covid 19, he expressed hope that normalcy would soon return, adding that the live of every Deltan was important and that Governor Okowa was working hard to protect Deltans against the coronavirus pandemic.
He said the state government had concluded plans to distribute food palliative this weekend, as the Okowa’s administration was committed to the wellbeing of all Deltans.
