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Members of Olusegun Obasanjo Hilltop Resident Association II in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital have appealed to the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun against the proposed plan to site a quarantine centre in the estate.
In a release made available to the press and signed by elders in the community, the community appreciates the thought of establishing a centre to cater for those who may test positive to the dreaded Coronavirus but would not want the isolation centre in the residential area for health reasons.
Titled: RE: PROPOSED SITING OF COVID-19 ISOLATION CENTRE IN OBASANJO HILLTOP GRA, OKE-MOSAN AND POTENTIAL NEGATIVE HEALTH DISASTERS ON RESIDENTS, the community housing mostly retired senior citizens from all walks of life who have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria in general and Ogun State in particular have found a resting abode in the estate which according to them would not want compromised.
Reading in part the letter reads, “We write on behalf of elders, residents, landlord-members and Executives of the above Resident Association to formally lodge a complaint about the proposal to site COVID-19 Isolation Center in the estate.”
Reading further the community appreciates the efforts of the Federal Government in combatting the pandemic.
“We appreciate the fact that the whole of Nigeria is currently battling to curtail the surge and spread of the most deadly health disaster occasioned by COVID-19.
According to the community, Mr. Fola Adeola who is a non-residential member of the community had donated the facility to the state government to serve as isolation centre.
Going by available reports, the virus is airborne and may survive in the atmosphere for eight hours which is enough to attack vulnerable and aged people.
The community however appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to think on compassionate ground because of the lives of the senior citizens living in the community.
Some of these aged Nigerians include: Prince Bola Ajibola Former World Court Judge, Olowu of Owu KingdomOba Adegboyega Dosunmu, Baba Adinni of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Tunji Sarafa Ishola, former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Salimot Badru, Bishop Oke, Professor Yemi Oke among others.
In the appeal, the letter reads, “Your Excellency, the community is comprised of retired and aged residents and other vulnerable individuals whose health and well-being would be most negatively affected by the potential conversion or siting of isolation centre in the neighborhood.
“We wish to state categorically, that this complaint is not, and should not be seen as a deliberate step to discourage a most charitable disposition of the donor to public health issues and related social concerns. It is essentially to request that the facility be used or deployed for allied services such as storage and other non-hazardous uses.
“It is in view of the foregoing that we most humbly appeal to Your Excellency to use your good office as the Executive Governor of Ogun State to cause immediate stoppage of the use of the facility as “COVID-19 Isolation Centre” due to potential health-related disasters that it might cause to vulnerable residents and generality of the community.”
The community however commended the donor, Adeola for his generosity, pleading that the facility be used for other non-sensitive purposes.
