HON. JAJUA BOOSTS COVID-19 FRONT LINE WORKERS AND URGED FOR PRIORITIZATION

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By: Melvin Tejan Mansaray

A former Member of Parliament (MP) has called on politicians, national and local leaders to make the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic the most important priority among tangible developmental projects that they are undertaking at the moment and blazed the trail on response assistances in Kenema and Kailahun Districts. Honorable Abu Jajua, former (2012-2018) Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) MP Constituency 008, Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone made this call in an exclusive interview with this Press following a series of food and cash interventions he made to members of COVID-19 Front Line Team, Party Executive members and the general public to stimulate compliance with Covid-19 prevention and protection measures. Sierra Leone as at Saturday, 9th May,2020 morning has recorded a cumulative figure of 291 total confirmed positive coronavirus cases, 18 deaths, 34 active new cases, 58 recoveries, 1.661 quarantine and 1.965 discharged from quarantine. Hon. Jajua in a move to cushion the negative impacts of the second phase of three days national lockdown said ” the total cost of Le 25 million was donated in the form of food and cash offers shared among Njaluahun Chiefdom EOC, Jahn Chiefdom, Muslim Leaders, Nixon Hospital Covid-19 Medical Team, Free Health Center Clinic, Military Team, Police Team, Chiefdom Orphanage Center, BRU Team, Chiefdom Police, Chiefdom Ambulance Team, Constituency 008 Party Executive members, Kailahun, Kenema District and Regional Offices. When you take a look at the distribution and beneficiaries, most of the food items were given to the COVID-19 Front Line Teams.” Asked about his motivation for making such a huge donation, Hon. Jajua said: ” It is to support the SLPP Executive members with Sunakati for the fasting period,” adding that ” and to encourage the COVID-19 Front Line Workers to continue their commitment in enforcing the government’s health regulations.” Giving an assessment of the political leadership exemplified so far in the coronavirus fight, Hon. Jajua said the political willingness in the fight against COVID-19 led by President Julius Maada Bio is encouraging and his statement of calling on citizens to join him in the fight was laudable and “motivated me to join this fight.” He however praised the level of compliance displayed by the people of Kenema and Kailahun Districts on the second national three days lockdown. “The physical observation i made across the two districts shows that both the people and front line workers are willing to end this fight by upholding the lockdown and curfew regulations,” Hon. Jajua observed. But why Hon. Jajua chose food and rice assistance over non food items; he said, “I chose food because 90% of our citizenry depend on daily income to feed their households, so providing such food stuffs can mitigate or reduce difficulties.” Hon. Jajua said with his interventions, he expect the beneficiaries to join in the Covid-19 fight and ramp up all efforts. “I am pleading on both my party members and citizens to join H.E President Bio in this fight by upholding both medical and governmental regulations in ending this pandemic,” Hon. Jajua said. On his theme message of making Covid-19 the topmost developmental project among every other projects, Hon. Jajua said there is nothing meaningful to embark on now than focusing a hundred percent attention in ending the coronavirus. He said: ” I call on every local and national leader to make the fight of Covid-19 the most important priority developmental project before any other tangible projects.”
In entirety, Hon. Jajua donated 100 bags of 25kg, 15 bags of 50kg, salt 15 bags, 2 big bag onions, 1 big bag sugar, 50 bundle water, 10 crate bottle water, and Le. 5 million cash. The former MP also donated rice and condiments for the three day lockdown to the three security checkpoints along Kenema to Kailahun District and a Plasma TV to Kamboi Eagles Soccer Club. “The total cost of my humble donations was Le.25 million and from my pocket,” the Engineer cum Politician said. President Bio on Friday 8th May, 2020 in a national broadcast blamed the main opposition APC of complacency and fomenting violence, emphasising that his war against violence will be fought within the confines of the rule of law with no hesitation. Hon. Jajua said that he believed that the President made his statement based on evidence before him, adding, “i therefore call on all opposition parties to please put Sierra Leone first and join the fight against this pandemic just like what we did during the last Ebola outbreak.” Hon. Jajua however advised, ” I want the Government to include political Leaders like the MPs, Councilors into Covid-19 Coordination Committees from National to Regional, District and Constituencies EOC’s,” underscoring that with Covid19, the political ambitions of individuals are meaningless, because a dead man does not cast votes or contest elections. Hon. Abu Jajua is tipped as a formidable contender for the SLPP National Organizing Secretary’s position ahead of the party’s upcoming convention, an ambition which he is pragmatically pursuing with all sense of responsibility in an era of Covid-19. He nonetheless pointed out, “my massage to the people of Sierra Leone is that we need to unite in the fight against our common enemy which is Covid-19 by supporting the Government in upholding all medical and relevant regulations.” In response to Hon. Jajua’s gestures, the SLPP Kenema and Kailahun grassroot members registered appreciation for what they termed as an extra motivation and encouragement in a tough medical and economic time. Moriba Koroma SLPP Kenema District Chairman said the items will influence more compliance and alleviate the plight of the needy. “Thank you Hon. Jajua for thinking about us in this trying time, you are showing that you love the people and the party. Your assistance spans beyond regions ,” Ibrahim Bavayah Foday, SLPP Kailahun District Secretary General said. Alhaji Gogra SLPP Constituency 008 Chairman said he is not surprised at Hon. Jajua as he has undertaken several development projects in the constituency and beyond. Also PC Caulker, Segbwema Town praised Hon. Jajua for not being greedy and ungrateful to his people’s plight while PC Foday Musa and Speaker of Jahn Chiefdom blessed and urged other descendants of the Districts and Region to emulate Hon. Abu Jajua by assisting the people through the party underscoring, ” Hon Jajua, your works shall follow you on a day of reckoning. “

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