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Sending Almajiri children to South ominous – Uko
By OBINNA EZUGWU
Founder of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) and Secretary, Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), Evangelist Elliot-Uko, has described the new trend of sending Almajiri children to the Southern part of the country as ominous and very dangerous.
The IYM founder who stated this in a statement on Wednesday, noted that it was regrettable that while some governors claim that they are returning the children to their states of origin, some strangely found their ways to the South of the country.
“The distribution of thousands of almajiri minors all over the country in the last week is both ominous and disturbing. Nobody can explain what wisdom inspired the never-before-seen mass movement of this notorious street urchins,” Uko said.
“State governments embarked on what they claim is merely returning the urchins to their states of origin. Unidentified people who have organised the mass relocation of the almajiri in recent days are yet to give us their reasons for this strange redistribution.
“Nigeria as a country, has not displayed inspiring preparation and capacity to effectively contain the rampaging plague spreading like wild fire, the world over. Certain state governments mischievously insist on denying the obvious field day covid 19 is currently enjoying within it’s rural communities. Claiming the mysterious unexplained upsurge in mortalities, is simply attributed to typhoid and malaria.”
Uko noted that the idea of sending the Almajiri down was even more sinister considering the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic and the unexplained deaths in some parts of the North.
“Whereas the unexplained deaths keep increasing, same state governments earnestly began redistribution of street urchins. Strange times indeed.
“More frightening is the uncommon relocation of same almajiri to the south of the country in their hundreds, maybe thousands. Cleverly hidden from plain sight in the base of large trailers displaying livestock as cargo, this sends jitters down the spine of citizens,” he said.
“Why would almajiris be exported to the east at this time? Why are they hiding them underneath livestock? Why would some northern state governments choose this time, when covid 19 is suspected to be alive and present in our midst, to redistribute almajiri, who are not known for their great hygiene etiquette? Why are they transported discreetly at night?” he wondered.
He said while it might be out of place at this point to accuse anyone of planning to spread Coronavirus, the relocation of the children is alarming.
“Whereas it would sound unkind and uncharitable for anyone to suggest there’s a deliberate attempt to spread covid 19 intentionally, all over the country, but this is truly suspicion and alarming. The silence of the central government over this strange development, is no less disturbing. The usually critical media seems blind to the strange movements, whereas law enforcement agencies are suddenly deaf and dumb,” he said.
“If the unhealthy trend continues, the unsavoury outcome will be disastrous for all. To be forewarned, is to be forearmed.
“Next, is the deliberate provocation being sustained for several weeks now, by the people and agency in charge of the distribution of the so called federal government palliative for the vulnerable.
“Everyone knows from what section of Nigeria, majority of the owners of the seized rice from our borders and warehouses hail from. Everybody can see what section is receiving the rice largesse at the expense of others.
“The message is too loud for all to note. The people in power today are clearly saying by the deliberate dichotomy in sharing the rice: “We are the owners of Nigeria, you guys can go to hell “.
“Only problem is: They expect us to believe in their Nigeria. Sad.”
