Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State is agog with jubilation as the lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Abinye Blessing Pepple disbursed his forfeited March 2020 salary as palliative to his constituents to cushion the effect of the coronavirus pandemic in the area.

The State Governor, Nyesom Wike had days ago ordered a lockdown of the State, prohibiting church gatherings, closing down markets and banning interstate travels.  

Pepple, in a remarkable show of empathy for his constituents, today began the disbursements of his forfeited salary with some of his constituents going to social media to thank him after receiving their share of n10,000 each.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Jumbo, the lawmaker upon arrival in his hometown, Bonny, told newsmen that the move was informed by the suffering his people were facing due to the lockdown which was necessitated by the need to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have forfeited my March salary as my own little support to assuage the plight and economic challenge my people will be going through this period, as a palliative, it is intended to cushion the adverse effects this scourge may have on us as a people while believing God for this plague to swiftly pass over. The financial disbursement of the salary is on course”.

Giving more insight into the gesture of the erudite lawmaker, his Constituency Secretary, Soparagha Jumbo told Kristina Reports that over 290 persons across political divides, party lines and including indigenes and non-indigenes benefited from the gesture, adding that “it was more about ameliorating the hardship his constituents were facing during these trying times.

He charged his constituents to be uncompromising in adhering to existing precautionary measures, especially, those established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“I sincerely urge and appeal to the good and hospitable people of Bonny State Constituency and the entire Rivers people to remain calm and adhere to safety rules and guidelines in the overall interest of our health and life. It is my prayer, belief and expectation that we all shall survive this plague. All we need is total obedience”.

“We must collectively rise to the occasion to create aggressive awareness against this killer pandemic and establish a sustainable framework to mitigate this ugly development that is gradually ravaging our society and we must insulate ourselves too,” he added.

The lawmaker also called on the private sector to collaborate with the Rivers State Government in “fighting this common enemy of humanity,” stressing that “it has become absolutely necessary and fundamental for the private sector to collaborate with the Rivers State Government to make their impact visible in terms of challenges like this under the circumstances”.

“It is only through collective efforts and concerted responsibilities that we can achieve success in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We must, at all levels, support the proactive approach and progressive initiatives of His Excellency, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike ,GSSRS,CON, POS Africa, Executive Governor of State to tackle this unfortunate and sad scourge and make significant sacrifice to alleviate the economic challenges of our people”.

The statement further added that the “The ‘Vocal’ also expressed unreserved commendation and rousing applause to the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON JP, Perekule XI, Bonny Chiefs’ Council, the Executive Chairman of Bonny LGA, Hon David Rogers Irimagha, Covid19 Bonny Volunteer Group, respected Individuals and Groups for their unflinching patriotic resolve, dogged efforts and unimpaired passion in respectively providing precautionary measures and sensitization to prevent the entrance or existence of the deadly covid-19 virus into Bonny.”