By Gbenga Akingbule
Its was a day of joy and unending smiles for 63 year old Cecelia Joseph, a widow and mother of six children who was part of the one hundred thousand families that benefited from the food support carried out by the Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum on Wednesday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the food support to the two most populous Local Government Areas of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Council is the first single largest food support since Zulum became Governor in 2019.
Zulum flagged off the distribution of the food palliatives at the Sports Centre in Maiduguri the state capital where beneficiaries and their relatives had converged.
The aim of the food support according to Governor Zulum is to ameliorate the economic hardship being experienced by many vulnerable families across the state including the likes of Cecilia whose husband, a commercial taxi driver was gruesomely murdered by suspected Boko Haram Terrorists over ten years ago.
Since the demise of her husband, Cecilia has continued to feed from hand to mouth with her six children revealed that Governor Zulum is the first to have reached out to her with any form of assistance- the food support, she said ” will assist me and my six children immensely ”
Prof Zulum had ordered that food support should be given to all vulnerable residents of the two local Councils irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliations hence paving the way for Cecilia who hails from far away Osun State, a devoted Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) member as well as other beneficiaries who are not indigens of the state.
“We have never distinguished between Christians and Muslims in our food distribution. What we’re doing is not partisan, it’s not based on ethnicity or religion; we advised the community to select one hundred thousand most valuable and bottom poor and this will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of the masses
“We are here today to flag off the distribution of food items to 100,000 heads of households from Maiduguri Metropolitan and its environs. Everyone in Nigeria is aware of the hardship people face regarding food shortages.
“All the preceding food distribution exercises we had conducted were carried out in other local government areas. Today, because of the hardship faced by our people, we decided to come and flag off the exercise here for the people of Metropolitan and its environs. These communities have not benefited immensely compared to other places.” Governor Zulum said.
Each of the one hundred thousand households was seen receiving one bag of 25kg rice and another bag of 25kg maize or millet.
Another beneficiary, Umar Ali was full of praises the prayers for Governor Zulum stating that ” this is the first time in my life that I’m receiving food support ” adding that ” this food will assist my family greatly.
Cecelia who currently lives in a rented accommodation on the outskirts of the state capital, like Oliver Twist, stated that she wants more assistance for her and her six children.
“I’m so grateful to Governor Zulum for wiping away my tears with this food support. But I would appreciate more support from the governor and other well-meaning citizens for the education of my children,” Cecelia said.
Not satisfied with the huge food support to vulnerable families, governor Zulum also vowed to reach out to an additional one hundred thousand families during the forthcoming Ramadan season.
“The distribution of the palliative would be scaled up from 100,000 households to over 200,000 families to cover other places, including seven local government areas in Southern Borno.” the Governor said.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central Senatorial District whose constituents were beneficiaries of the food support also commended the governor and stated that he and his colleagues at the National Assembly will continue to back the governor to archive more for the state.
“Governor Zulum is a compassionate and people-oriented leader who is always ready to meet the yearnings and aspirations of his people. This food will impact my constituents positively,” Sen. Lawan said.
