Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja , Nigeria
Following the deadly explosion in Ibadan Tuesday night which caused massive destruction and fatalities, some residents of the Bodija area of the ancient city where the incident happened have sought immediate Humanitarian response from the federal government.
In a release made available to Truth Live News, the residents, including youths and women most of whose small-scale businesses were destroyed by the explosion, pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to recall the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu to office, saying if she was in office, she would have visited them in less than 24-hours to empathize with them and bring succor to them on behalf of the Federal Government.
One of them, Mrs Modinat Ojulari whose kiosk and grinding machine was destroyed in the explosion lamented her loss, asking for government assistance.
Ojulari who said the grinding machine was given to her by Dr. Betta Edu during her time as APC National Women Leader during the pre-presidential Campaign in Ibadan, appealed to President Tinubu to forgive Edu on behalf of the downtrodden and poor Nigerians.
Kafayat Alabelewe from Agodi said “Though I have not seen or met that woman Asiwaju suspended from office before, I think her name is Edu; but I have been hearing in the news how she helps the poor and people who suffer the kind of loss I have suffered because of this explosion; I’m sure if she was in office, she would have immediately rushed here to console us and bring us relief items from Asiwaju just as she has done in so many places.
“My entire means of livelihood is gone. Where do I start from? I’m begging President Tinubu, our Asiwaju to please bring Dr. Betta Edu back to her position so that she can come and help us “Mrs Alabelewe, an unemployed NCE holder said amid sobs.
On his part, 26-year-old Waisu Ogunmola whose carpentry workshop was destroyed said he lost all finished work belonging to his clients together with his work tools.
“My life is finished. Who will help me? We want the federal government to come to our aid; President Tinubu should please, quickly pardon the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and restore her to office; and then send her to come to our aid; she has done it for other people before, our own should not be different”, Ogunlesi who claimed he holds an Ordinary National Diploma, OND pleaded.
In her usual ways, the hard-working mother of Humanitarian activities would have immediately swung into action through the instructions of Mr. President by not only visiting the affected victims but also bringing succor to everyone affected while putting in place lasting solutions to the predicament of the said victims as evident in her speedy response to situations as such.
The poor, aged, vulnerable, orphanages, less privileged, widows, disabilities, and even the downtrodden have continued to solicit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please reinstate the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Allegation Dr. Betta Edu to enable her to continue with her good works which are truly in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
While a few may still be wary and apprehensive over the Betta/Humanitarian Affairs saga, no one is in doubt that Betta Edu would have been in Ibadan before the dust settled. Her hands on, right there, round the clock, workaholic nature is a chasm unbridged.