Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has on Thursday donated two motorised to Akwa Ibom and Borno State governments to help them in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’ palace, Comrade Moses Olafare who received the Borno delegation on behalf of the Ooni described the donations as his token to complement the Borno State Government’s efforts in winning the war against the pandemic.
Olafare said train of the Ooni Covid-19 team would have moved to Maiduguri to deliver the King’s message but security challenges and other logistics have caused the delay, thanking the Professor Zulum led government of Borno for coming to pick the equipment themselves just the way Bauchi state has done
“Like he has done to other states across the country and right at the moment doing in Akwa Ibom state, I am happy to present these two modular motorised fumigators to the Borno State Government on behalf of the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife.
“Ooni’s definition of monarch includes the progressive willingness and readiness to always support the government especially in critical times like this. Kabiyesi believes that the government should not be left alone.” Comrade Olafare said.
While handling the locally made machines to the Borno state government’s representatives, on behalf of the Ooni, Comrade Olafare equally lauded the Borno Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum for his remarkable giant leadership strides in spite of the Boko Harram challenges, wishing him an all-round success.
Speaking, a W.H.O Public Health Consultant who doubles as Technical Consultant to the Ooni on his COVID-19 intervention projects, Prof. Olapeju Esimai described the machine as a multipurpose equipment which is easy to use and maintain.
“Firstly, it can be used for the fumigation of our environment against viral and bacteria infections including the rampaging coronavirus while it can equally serve agricultural purposes. For fumigation, all you need to put inside the tank is your Sodium Hydrocloride at a measurement recommended by public health experts and you are good to go.” Prof. Esimai
On his part, the Head of machines and tools section at the Ooni’s Palace, Mr. Victor Badejo, explained that the fumigator has two pressure engines, a tank and other components which makes it a very simple equipment to operate.
“For easy assemblage and operation, you will be given a manual for each machines but as you can see, it is a very simple unique fumigator.” Mr. Victor added.
Receiving the machines on behalf of the Borno State Government, Mrs. Olubiyo Victoria from the Borno State’s liason office in Lagos expressed a deep appreciation to the Ooni over the gift.
“We are so grateful and I want to assure Baba, the Ooni of Ife for recognizing the people oriented leadership strides of our workaholic governor, His Excellency Professor Babagana Zulum. The government and people of Borno will remain grateful and I assure that the equipment would be used for the purpose that is meant for. we are proud of the king and we pray that God Almighty continue to bless the Ooni of Ife, the kingdom of Ile-Ife and the entire Yoruba race under his leadership.” She said.
While the donation exercise was going at Ife, other members of the Ooni Covid-19 Committee were at the government house in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state where two motorized fumigators were being presented to the state governor, Dr Udom Emmanuel.
Welcoming the Ooni’s delegation on behalf of the governor, Secretary to the State Governor and Chairman, Covid-19 Management Committee in Akwa Ibom state, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem thanked Ooni Ogunwusi, describing him as an uncommon creative monarch.
Dr Ekuwem said the governor loves the Ooni for his kindheartedness and holds him in high esteem for appreciating the relevance of the the people especially the downtrodden ones in the day-to-day affairs by coming up with innovative projects that have direct impacts on them just like the locally fumigating machines fabricated at his palace in Ile-Ife.
“On behalf of His Excellency the people’s governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Udom Emmanuel, we are very happy to receive this delegation from the Source of Yoruba race and from His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife in particular.
“Mr governor sends his deepest appreciation to His Majesty for this show of love to the people of Akwa Ibom. If you go to Ife, you will see that Kabiyesi is a very creative person. He is well connected to the people because he has realized that leadership can not function without the people.
“A royal figure must not disconnect himself from the people. Go to any palace you see that people pay homage, animals don’t pay homage, bees don’t pay homage, so, there can be no royalty without the people. For Kabiyesi to be this innovative that people must be alive, Mr governor is very happy that these fumigators the Ooni has been taking across boundaries in Nigeria is a demonstration of his love for the people of this country because only love does that. This is bridge building, and this a matter of love.” He said
A member of the Ooni’s team, Ajoyemi Osunleye explained the details of the visit and technicalities behind the machines.
“Its a motorized modular fumigator invented by the Ooni of Ife. What His Majesty did was to produce a system converting water to fog like the morning dew, the system is well designed better than the ones used before now.
“The solution used for the content is Sodium hypochlorite which is very friendly with human skin, you can spray it everywhere and you can go under it as its not injurious to our body skins.
“Kabiyesi while designing the equipment also targeted post Covid-19 era like agriculture, the regular environmental sanitations, pre-event fumigation of social parties, religious occasions, political campaign venues, office premises, sport arenas and other sensitive environments.
You all recall the kabiyesi shortly before the lockdown came up with herbal solutions to fight Covid-19, after a long process working with some scientists coordinated by a professor of public health and currently the H.O.D of the Community Health Department of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Professor Olapeju Esimai, this product is called ‘VIRAL BAL’ So, it’s not only in Madagascar that herbal solution can come out, Ooni too has the herbal solutions passing through clinical stages and will be made available to the public very soon. He’s a king that loves this country and this is what he has been doing to support Nigeria in his own little way”. Ajoyemi explained.
Princess Kemi Fadojutimi who led Ooni’s team to Akwa Ibom had earlier in her address said that Ooni Ogunwusi would not relent in his efforts to support government and people of Nigeria in the fight against Covid-19, saying that Akwa Ibom was the 15th state in the southern part of the country that have benefited from the Ooni’s benevolence of free fumigators, remaining only Cross Rivers and Imo which would be done in the next two days.
*Kabiyesi Ooni of Ife has given this to all the Southern states except Cross Rivers and Imo which we will do tomorrow and Saturday. The king just wants to show love with these contributions aimed at complementing the efforts of government so that we can collectively defeat Covid-19.
“He felt we should not just wait for government to do it all, he assembled a team of youths and after some deliberations, this innovative fumigation method came out. Am proud to tell you that every aspect of the motorized modular fumigator is locally made.
“As we are here with you, the representatives of Borno State are at the palace in Ile-Ife to collect theirs just like Bauchi did about 3 weeks ago. She said.
