By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu
It started with a social media trending video. A Nigerian Father, having warned his son against travelling to a Covid-19 high risk Nigerian State, alerted his home State authority of the son’s home-bound movement, urging government to isolate him on arrival in order to prevent a spread of the virus.
His refusal to allow Babafemi, his son under his roof until he was properly isolated for the stipulated 14 days and tested negative spurred divert views from various quarters.
Adeoye, a retired road safety officer insisted on his stand. He already called the Ekiti State Chief Security Officer informing him of his son’s expected arrival. Unfortunately, a member of the Covid-19 Response Task Force tried to make him change his decision on isolating the son. Adeoye remained undaunted, even when he was coerced in the trending video by task force officer,Durodola.
Adeoye gave his son’s cell phone numbers to the State Covid-19 Task Force members alerting them of the risk of his exposure to the virus where he travelled to. He expected the State to quarantine him as he said, “…I have no place to isolate my son for 14 days. I don’t want his case to be like the pregnant women that threw Ekiti State into confusion two weeks ago.
“You know what is trending in Nigeria and you still tell me this?” Adeoye asked Durodola as he kept urging him to take his son home. “He is your son, he is your son, you have to let him into your house…”
Adeoye’s explanation on how he already informed Drs Afolayan and Ogunsakin according to the viral video, and how the doctors asked him to leave his son at the pavilion, never convinced Durodola. As he tried to force Babafemi into his father’s car, Adeoye quickly reversed the car, turned and left the pavilion.
That however was not the end of the story.
Few hours later, the video of Adeoye’s encounter with the Ekiti State Covid-19 Response Task Force, recorded by Durodola went viral. The State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi saw the video and reacted.
“In accordance with existing regulations, denying his son entry into his household having travelled from places under federal lockdown against his fatherly advice, Mr Adeoye has proved to be a worthy ambassador of Ekiti State’s resolve to end the #Covid19 pandemic.
“The government abd the good people of Ekiti State are very proud of this chivalrous act of courage and principle which are the hallmarks of the Ekiti person.
“Mr Adeoye represents the kind of self-discipline , selflessness and sense of collective responsibility that Ekiti State and Nigeria need desperately today to progress.
“Ekiti State will in future recognise Mr Adeoye’s valour as an example of the rebirth of Ekiti Values Orientation which is the central focus of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration.”
Adeoye was soon after rewarded! He is now a Covid-19 Response Ambassador in Ekiti State; Governor Fayemi’s reward for his uprightness!
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