TELL Magazine

…Calls on Nigerians to Emulate Late Hosa Okunbo

In the spirit of the Yuletide season in which he resumed on Sunday his yearly rice and cash distribution to the less-privileged in Edo State, a renowned educationist and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Kenneth Imansuagbon, has appealed to political leaders and affluent Nigerians to rise to the challenge of hunger in the country and support hungry Nigerians. Imansuagbon, the chairman and proprietor of high-brow Pace Setters Group of Schools in Abuja, also called on well-to-do Edo people to join him in the struggle to defeat hunger in the state.

Recall that in the past 12 years, Imansuagbon had made it an annual ritual to distribute rice and cash gifts not just to indigent individuals, but also to orphanages and prisons across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Flagging off this year’s exercise at Agenebode, Etsako East local government area, and Ewohimi, his home town, in Esan South East local government area of the state, Imansuagbon, popularly called “Rice Man”, called for coordinated efforts by well-meaning Nigerians to fight hunger in the country, stressing that no government alone can do this without the efforts of those God has blessed. He explained that his gesture in this regard was to ameliorate the suffering of people of the state.
The former PDP governorship aspirant called on Nigerians to emulate the philanthropic gesture of late Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo whom he noted, was there for everyone irrespective of tribe or ethnicity.
According to Imansuagbon, “I am calling on all Nigerians, Edo sons and daughters, to join me in the struggle to defeat hunger in Edo state. We need to feed our children. We just have to conquer hunger.

“Let us learn from late Capt Hosa Okunbo. He gave to everyone; he shared with all that came in contact with him. You don’t need to be super rich to share with the needy. Our leaders must see now that our people are hungry. Leaders must feel the suffering of the people. If you eat and your neighbour can’t, then we are in trouble. Look at the way people are struggling to grab 10kg bag of rice. I will do everything to fight hunger”.
An appreciative septuagenarian and proprietor of Christ Family Orphanage, Agenebode, Etsako East local government area of the state, Mrs. Ebohia Bello, with about 216 children, commended Imansuagbon’s philanthropic gesture. She disclosed that “In fact, this is the third time the rice man is visiting us with loads of food items. We are very grateful and pray that God should grant his heart’s desires”.