By Olalekan Ola
The former Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun, has called on governments and stakeholders in the country to assist the widows and less privileged individuals to reduce the suffering people are facing recently.
He made the call while distributing food items to over 200 widows in Ile-Ife. He said that he decided to assist these less privileged that has lose their husbands and because of the economic downturn, he thought that it's needful.
The former commissioner called on other stakeholders and philanthropists to support government in empowering and caring for the widows.
He said the economic situation in the country is terrible for the widows and less privileged to live. "No matter what you have you must take out of it to assist your fellow human being. Things are very tough now. Government are given palliatives to people which will not go round", Ayedun posited.
"I am not doing it as a politician but as a human being that has human blood. This is part of my religion responsibility to give to the needy. God emphasized in the Qur'an the need to assist the widows and orphans which am doing today.
"God stated in the Quran to assist the widows. The present economic situation in the country informed my decision to single out the widows in this palliatives because there is need to give them sense of belongings not to allow them to suffer", Ayedun said.
He added: "Most of the widows do not have resources to take care of their children after the demise of their husbands, which I think there is need to assist them as bonafide members of society. This gesture will relief them to some extent".
Ayedun noted that the far reaching solution to the present economic situation is to endure but endurance capacity of human being is not inelastic and we need to pray for improvement on the economic situation of the country, stressing that 200 widows benefited from the food palliatives.
The ex-commissioner added that the beneficiaries cut across religious groups and people within his community. He called on other stakeholders and philanthropists to support government in empowering and caring for the widows.
Speaking, the Chief Imam of Ifeland, Alhaji AbdulSemiu AbdulHammid described the donor as well grounded person who has for long giving to the poor in society. He is useful to humanity and his contributions cannot be quantified.
He urged other stakeholders to emulate him in assisting the needy in the society so as to reduce poverty level in our society. He used his resources to assist the widows. The gesture is apolitical. Anybody that assists the widows will get the rewards in manifolds.
The Cleric commended the efforts of the donor for his good gesture towards widows especially at a time like this, saying this is not his first time of empowering and distributing food items to aged, widows, physically challenged people among others.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Bilikisu Ayandiran thanked the donor for the gesture, pray God to continue to be with him. The gesture will relief them a lot to ameliorate their suffering, urging others who are wealthy to assist widows and less privileged in the society to cushion the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.