For The Records: Governor Oyetola’s Address On Lockdown Extension

BROADCAST BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, MR. ADEGBOYEGA OYETOLA, ON THE IMPOSITION OF THE SECOND LOCKDOWN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK ON APRIL 14, 2020

My Dear Good People of the State of Osun,

You will all recall that, following the confirmation of the first case of Coronavirus in the State of on March 25, 2020 by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, we  ordered a partial lockdown on the State to contain the spread of the deadly virus. The second case was recorded three days later, while the partial lockdown was still on.

Then came the unexpected arrival of 127 returnees from Ivory Coast shortly after the second case. That sporadically shot the number of persons in isolation from two to 129, necessitating the imposition of a two-week sit-at-home order which came into effect midnight March 31, 2020 to contain the spread of the virus and keep our people safe.

The decision to impose a lockdown on the State was a painful one, but its outcomes have proven that we took the best decision as no new case was recorded during the two-week total lockdown period.

One of the two earlier cases has since been discharged after testing negative twice. Also, 110 out of the 127 Ivory Coast returnees tested negative and have been released while 10 out of the remaining 17 patients who tested positive for Coronavirus have tested negative twice and have been released to join their families. The remaining seven that tested positive, are receiving adequate treatment at our facility, in Ejigbo.

We owe all these achievements above to the good people of the State whose patience encouraged us to take extreme and decisive decisions during these perilous times. We thank you all  for your support, patience and sacrifice during these difficult times.We urge you all to continue to obey the regulations to avert community transmission.

Sincere appreciation is due to our religious leaders, who like good shepherds, convinced their congregations to not only obey our regulations but also to support us with prayers. Our traditional rulers are our pillars of support and our direct channels to our people. They played a great role in ensuring huge compliance with the sit-at-home order.

We also thank our security operatives for their cooperation and support.

Our health workers who took the fight to our common enemy day and night to ensure that we are all safe are the heroes of the ongoing war against the virus. On behalf of the Government and people of the State of Osun, I thank them all for their stellar services to the State and her people.

Words are inadequate to thank the 21-man Food and Relief Committee for their efforts, and for accepting to serve on that committee.

My Dear Good People of The State of Osun, it is true that we have collectively kept our own bargain to win this war to this level. There can be no doubt that we have all sacrificed to get us where we are.

However, the application and implications of half measures are dangerous and grave at this critical period.  The experience of the last few months is not one we would wish to repeat but it is better for us to deal with this deadly enemy once and for all. The circumstances of our situation do not support the suspension of lockdown at this period.

We are aware of the negative effects of lockdown on our fragile economy. But as a responsible government, we will not sacrifice  the lives and security of our people on the altar of economy.

Consequently, in order to ensure a total defeat of coronavirus in Osun, we shall extend lockdown by another 14 days.

But to allow our people to re-stock, the lockdown is suspended between Wednesday, 15th and Thursday, 16th April, 2020. The second lockdown shall therefore commence on midnight of Thursday, April 16, 2020.

All markets and land boundaries remain closed during the suspension of the lockdown and the lockdown period. Also, the ban on all public gatherings remains in force.

Our citizens and residents are enjoined to continue to observe all precuationary measures during the suspension of the lockdown and within the lockdown period, including social distancing, washing of hands with soap or use of hand sanitisers.

We shall continue to provide palliatives for the poor, the needy and the vulnerable people in our State to cushion the effects of the sit-at-home order.

Let me take this opportunity to remind us all that the laws guiding the operation of this lockdown and the general security of the people are in force and the relevant security agencies are on alert to ensure total compliance and the safety and security of the people.

Like I noted during one of my press briefings, we must see ‘coronavirus as our common enemy; it poses a threat to our lives and livelihood. We put ourselves, our families and livelihood in jeopardy when we pander to ignorance and play politics with a life-snuffing virus.’

While we are making progress, a lot will still depend on our collective cooperation and compliance.

I thank you once again for your sacrifice and compliance. I count on our collective resolve to win this war against our common enemy.

May God accept our sacrifice as we all resolve to heal our land and keep it safe.

Thank you and God bless.