The yearly Ramadan Outreach of the Bola Tinubu Foundation (BTF) was held at Onikan Stasium on Lagos Island last Saturday. The needy went home with gifts and cash, MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports
The Onikan Stadium on Lagos Island was a beehive of activities on Saturday. It was a day the disabled, the aged and other less privileged persons gathered to benefit from the Ramadan Outreach organised by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Foundation (BTF).
The foundation has been reaching out to the needy through provision of food items, cash, clothes, cooking items and toiletries to enable them to participate in any Muslim festivities. The event used to be held at Idowu Tailor Street, Victoria Island where the foundation’s office is located.
This time around, it was shifted to Onikan Stadium in order to accommodate large recipients expected at the event.
Prior to the day, information had reached the people that the foundation would provide Sallah items for the poor to enable them to celebrate.
To prevent the event from being hijacked by hoodlums, policemen and other para-military personnel were drawn from the civil defence and others. Sniffer dogs were also controlled by plain-clothed security personnel that patrolled the venue.
Despite the presence of policemen and other security personnel, it took beneficiaries hectic time to receive their gifts.
To avoid unforeseen challenges that might likely to be encountered at the gate, people started trooping to the venue in the wee hours of the day. So, by 9:00 a.m. when the event commenced, the mammoth crowd at the venue became almost uncontrollable.
To maintain decorum at the venue, special gates were allocated to women, men while the disabled assembled in certain area to be taken in by the officials of the foundation.
The situation almost turned out nasty when street urchins popularly known as Area Boys became lords of the day as they flex muscles at every entrance into the stadium. The police fired tear gas to calm situation when it was becoming rowdy. The police had to take such action when the street urchins constituted threat to innocent people.
Despite the initial hitches at the entrance, those who were genuinely accredited for the gifts were happy after collecting what was packaged for them.
Those who were cleared assembled on a single file, and were given cash and other items. The beneficiaries expressed joy that the foundation was reaching out to the poor in order to make them have a sense of belonging during Sallah and Christmas celebrations.
Speaking to Southwest Report, an official of the foundation, Femi Oyatolu said about 6,000 items were packed for the beneficiaries who had been issued with tickets.
Oyatolu, who is a Special Assistant to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, explained that the choice of Onikan Stadium was to ensure enough space that will enable the large crowd have easy movement. According to him, the last time the foundation made donation to the poor, 2000 people benefitted.
Oyatolu noted that those who had tickets would go home with item to enable them celebrate the Sallah. He said the foundation is specifically for the needy, the aged and people whose means of livelihood is unmaintainable.
He said: “The foundation believes in reaching out to the poor and the needy, to give them something to celebrate, no matter how small, with their families at festival periods.
“Basically, what his Excellency Asiwaju Tinubu is trying to do is to give back to the society. At least, he tries to give them something that can put smiles on their faces. We have packaged about 6,000 gift items for the people and we will ensure that those who were genuinely accredited get the items.
One of the beneficiaries, Alhaja Moriamo Sule thanked Asiwaju Tinubu for the gesture. She said that was the second time she had benefited from the foundation, stressing that the collection process in the previous ones was not as hectic as that of Onikan Stadium.
“It was like a thug of war to get into this venue, but I thank God that my effort yielded results. Now, I will go home to prepare for the Sallah. At least, members of my family will have something to eat, though we will buy some other things apart from what we have gotten.’’
Seventy-two-year-old Mr. Bolaji Kadiri was not that lucky. He said he arrived at the venue before 7 in the morning but was unable to find his way into the stadium.
He expressed dismay that street urchins hijacked the purpose which the foundation was meant to serve.
“You can see them at the gates banging and yelling. Some of them have taken drugs and all manner of things. They are causing trouble for those who want to enter and are even stealing people’s belongings. I have genuine pass to go in for Asiwaju’s Sallah gift, but each time I meander my way, I got stuck. So, I had to retreat for my own safety.
“The police have tried to disperse them but they have become difficult to control. I am sure they don’t want to fire tear gas because of old people like us. The organisers should think of a better way to address some of the hitches in future. As it is, I may return home without collecting my items today.’’
Mrs. Rosemary Gbogidi from Somolu Local Government Area said the foundation should decentralise the collection process by holding the event in a more spacious venue, adding that by so doing, the stress would be minimised.
She said the gesture is a noble one, but it makes no sense if people suffer to receive what was meant to make them happy.
She said: “This is the first time I had collected the foundation’s gift items and May God bless Asiwaju for what he is doing for the people. He is a great man who hates to see people suffering. He likes the masses to a fault and would not tolerate anybody who makes the people to suffer.
“I will suggest that the items should be taken to each local government where people who have genuine pass can collect their items. The items should equally be well monitored to prevent diversion of the items by people who may thwart the original purpose of the foundation. May God add more years to the life of Asiwaju because he cares for the less-privileged persons.’’
One of the disabled persons, Sunday Adesina expressed joy that the physically-challenged were included. He, however, expressed his reservations about the rigorous process which the people went through before they could collect their gifts at the venue.
He said: “Greet Asiwaju for me. God will be with him. But my wheelchair was compressed when I tried to pass through the gate. Those boys did not even care whether we are physically-challenged or not; they were pushing us here and there. Please, tell Asiwaju to buy me another wheelchair since the one I have had damaged.
“You can see the rice and other items that I collected. I will take them home so that my mother will eat from it. I am already in the Sallah mood, when I got my gift and cash. May God bless him and the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.’’
Sherifat Alao, a petty trader, expressed happiness over the gesture, but suggested that the items should not be taken to local government areas for distribution.
“Asiwaju is the father of the masses; God will continue to bless him. I learnt nobody sees Asiwaju and goes back home sad. They said the man cares for his workers. We will continue to pray from him. I want to also thank his wife, Senator Oluremi who is a strong pillar behind our baba,” she said.
