Why Oyo State Should Not Be Exempted From Federal Government's Relief Funds — By Wale Muraina

Nobody should doubt the outbreak and current existence of corona virus pandemic which has without equivocation spread across the length and breadth of the world.

Wuhan in China is believed to be the first place in the world where the deadly and pernicious disease has originated from, Xii Jin Ping of China and his cabinet members swang into action on how its curtailment would be nipped in the bud.

African and most importantly Nigerian leaders have no belief that it would spread to the country until italian man visited Nigeria with identified symptoms of the virus.

The thought of everybody was initially premised on the fact that the italian case would be the first and the last in Nigeria until bigwigs like Aba Kyari, Buhari's Chief of Staff, son of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and others were identified and confirmed with positive contraction of the virus.

Having acknowledged the outbreak in Abuja, Lagos and Oyo States at the once set, Federal Government and the concerned states have been frantically making concerted efforts against its spread and curtailment.

Part of efforts made was the federal government's initiative to come up with COVID-19 PRESIDENTIAL TASKFORCE that is assigned saddling with responsibility of containing, curtailing and granting of relief funds, materials and equipment to states of the federation that are battling with the pandemic.

On a note of sincerity and objectivity, Lagos State remains a notable and reckoned state where the numbers of contraction  are more compared to other states and there is nothing bad in federal government providing the assistance to fight the pandemic.

Need to say that what affects Lagos State, Abuja and other states is what Oyo State is battling now. As lives of people in Abuja and Lagos are precious to federal government so also the pace setter state where its index number has currently risen to eight(8).

Oyo State should not be seen as opposition state but should be constitutionally acknowledged as one of the states of the federation which the privilege entrusts to other states should also be reciprocated to the place.

Records and verified facts have disclosed that federal government and many Nigerian wealthy and influential men across the country have donated to fight the pandemic and which the government at the centre had itemised the beneficiary states where Oyo State is not inclusive.

Currently Oyo State is now number four on the roll list of the states that have the highest numbers of people contracting with corona virus.

What has Oyo State done to be depriving of getting federal government's relief funds to wage war against the contagious disease in the state?.

Politics should not be played with issues that affect lives, economic stability, people's health and their standard of living.

Federal Government should think and reason beyond politics because what is good for the geese is also good for the gander.