Some influential old people in Abeokuta have tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his decision to donate his former residence to government to serve as an isolation centre for coronavirus cases.
The elders, including an influential industrialist like Chief Olatunde Abudu, said although Obasanjo’s intention was noble, citing the centre in their own environment would expose them to the pandemic.
Obasanjo had announced the donation of his 32-room residence at the Presidential Hilltop Estate in Abeokuta on Friday, via a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi.
The elders, in a petition to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, rejected the idea, and urged the governor to intervene.
The petition was signed by ex-Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Dr Peter Akinola; Abudu; Chief Babatunde Oke, Chief Yinka Kufile and Alhaji Muftau Adegbenro.
But senior residents on the estate said they were not comfortable having a COVID-19 isolation centre in their neigbourhood.
They noted: “We read it in the news with rude shock and disbelief that the former President has donated his former residence located at the Presidential Hilltop Estate in Abeokuta to be used as isolation centre for victims of the dreaded coronavirus disease.
“While we thank the former President for his patriotic and philanthropic gesture, the purpose of this gift at this point in time is utterly reprehensible and therefore unacceptable.
“As elders we have discussed and we have made our position known in the letter which shall be delivered to the office of His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, as soon as possible.
“There is no doubt that siting such an isolation centre in a residential estate is highly inimical and indeed a threat to the health of residents, many of whom are old people, who are more vulnerable to the attack of the dreaded pandemic.
“Should the government accept this gift for the intended purpose, would it not be a willful invitation to the untimely death of the aged in this community? For instance, Baba Olatunde Abudu is well over 91 years old and most of us are in our late and early 70s.”
“We sincerely appreciate the various steps being taken by the governor to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and we also pray for the quick recovery of the victims across the nations as well as permanent stop to this deadly virus.
“We have no doubt that Governor Dapo Abiodun will save our soul from this donation from the former President.”
