At least, seven elderly persons have reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries while scrambling for coconut seedlings distributed by a Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District in Enugu State, Senator Okey Ezea.
The lawmaker, who was elected on the platform of the Labour Party, had empowered his constituents with hundreds of coconut seedlings.
Meanwhile, there was uproar after the lawmaker inaugurated the coconut seedling empowerment at Nsukka High School as beneficiaries, including aged parents, swooped on the items and fought over their sharing formula.
The constituents, it was gathered, did not wait for the coconut seedlings to be shared before collecting them, a situation that caused confrontation and fighting among them.
It was gathered that no fewer than seven elderly men and women sustained different degrees of injuries in the melee where younger constituents struggled to snatch coconut seedlings from the senior citizens.
Sources said those who got injured were treated at a hospital close to the venue of the empowerment programme.
The senator, during the empowerment, had said coconut empowerment is for the next generation to benefit from his kind gesture.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions over distribution of coconut seedlings by the lawmaker.
While some citizens of the state see nothing working in the initiative, others criticized the choice of coconut seedlings as empowerment.
“Did I hear you say empowerment? Our people have really suffered at the hand of our wicked politicians. Some of these senators’ children are sent $5000 monthly for upkeep. However, another person’s child is getting coconut. What a world,” Ana Jacob, a constituent lamented.
However, some other residents of the state differed, saying the idea should not be condemned.
Nnabuike Bright said, “Because of sentiment, some people may not see the reason behind his idea. I know a man not far from us in Nsukka that has thousands of stands not producing yet but he told me he is trying to beat his mentor from Ghana that has above 10,000, then multiply by N500 per one. Is that not huge money? If a poor man has five trees producing, won’t it be of help to him? All hands are not the same.
For Zion Ebuka, “He (Senator) has really done well. We are all enjoying palm trees planted by our grandparents and parents. We are also enjoying pears, Ujuru, Akpaka, cashew, and other cash crops from where we make money. On our own, we haven’t done anything for our future children. Our parents and grandparents sacrificed for us and we are enjoying it today.
“These coconut trees from eight years to come up until 50 years ahead will provide sources of income to thousands of the beneficiaries. I commend Sen. Okey Ezea (Ideke) for this monumental project.”
