Chief Rotimi Ajanaku, an APC Chieftain in Oyo State has lauded the Oyo State Chapters of Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) and Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) for their frontier role in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).
Ajanaku gave the commendation on Monday in Ibadan while distributing relief materials to the people of the state.
Ajanaku, a former House of Representatives on the platform of Zenith Labour Party in the last general election and President, Oodua Youths.
The programme was a replication of the gesture extended to the vulnerable in Lagos State by Ajanaku.
Ajanaku also launched a platform where 250 persons benefitted N5,000 each and had been feeding people since the COVID-19 outbreak in Lagos.
He said that the NUJ played very crucial role which put all concerned authorities on their toes to curtail the spread of the virus in the state.
“The issue of COVID-19 pandemic would have resulted in catastrophe in Oyo State but for the timely intervention of NUJ, Oyo State Council. Oyo NUJ has been so wonderful and very uncompromising in putting us all on our toes in the state.
“The union assumed high sense of responsibility by hitting hard on authorities who ought to have taken proactive approach to stop the spread of the virus in the state.
“They risked their relationship with personalities and government to safe residents of the state when some are busy scampering to capitalise on the pandemic to make millions into their personal account,” he said.
Ajanaku said that the union stood against all odds to safe lives in the state, saying the pandemic would have dealt with the people in an overwhelming manner that would have affected hundreds of people.
He said that such selfless and essential service rendered by the union necessitated his support for the union to cussion the economic effects of COVID-19 on its members.
According to him, “Oyo NUJ deserved to be applauded for taken the bull by the horns; it woke us all up in the state, including the medical association, UCH and even Oyo State Government in particular.
“It is time for us to appreciate the state journalists for their uprightness and standing for masses in their time of needs. How I wish other unions, associations and group could follow this selfless examples.
“I was also impressed when the information about the contributions of the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Oyo State Chapter, Mr Bayo Titilola-Sodo and his team got to me.”
Ajanaku described the efforts of NLC as
another great effort towards ensuring that people living in the rural, suburb and interior areas in the state comply with the state government directives on COVID-19.
He said that the NLC boss was the Chairman, Advisory Council of Coalition of Grassroots Volunteers Against COVID-19 (COGVAC-19) established by the Association of Local Government Information Officers (ALGIO) to reach out to the rural and urban areas.
“I see the establishment of COGVAC-19 team by Titilola-Sodo’s group as another great and commendable step. This is the only group that has the ability to take the campaign to every corner of the state.
“With this singular act, Titilola-Sodo has distinguished himself as an exemplary leader of a great value who sees service to humanity as a call that must be answered.
“With the establishment of volunteers at local government level, reaching out to people in the rural, suburb and interior areas would not be a problem any longer,” Ajanaku concluded.
Ajanaku had extended the relief packages which included cash and foodstuffs to religious as well as professional groups.
The APC chieftain had also distributed N5000 each to 150 less priviledged in his Ibadan South West/North West Federal Constituency.
