A group under the auspices of the Righteous People’s Movement (TRIPOM), in collaboration with the Old Catholic International Missionary Society of St. Christopher & Caritas Sustainable Development Foundation, has launched a food bank in Ekiti State to combat inflation and poverty. The initiative was unveiled in Ado-Ekiti over the weekend by the Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church Nigeria and President of African Old Catholic Churches, Most Rev. Oluwaseun Fagbohun.
Food Bank as a Broader Support System
Rev. Fagbohun explained that the food bank is not limited to food distribution but serves as a generic name for rendering assistance in various areas of need for vulnerable people. He disclosed that TRIPOM has received support from local organizations and partners based in the UK, Canada, Japan, and other countries to achieve its mission of providing for the needy and scaling down poverty.
Concerns Over Poverty and Insecurity
Bishop Fagbohun raised concerns about worsening poverty, rising insecurity, and a disconnect between political actors and the realities faced by ordinary citizens. He warned that hunger and economic deprivation could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, noting that voters struggling to survive are more vulnerable to inducement. He criticized the prioritization of political endorsements while economic realities are ignored, maintaining that addressing poverty should be central to governance, especially during an election season. He urged leaders to prioritize citizens’ welfare over political campaigns.
According to him, the concept of the “Food Bank” goes beyond physical food distribution. It is a structured support system designed to meet diverse needs, ranging from nutrition to education and financial assistance through verified processes. He stressed that beneficiaries are carefully selected based on need, insisting the initiative is not an open-access scheme but a targeted intervention to reach the most vulnerable.
Call for Righteousness and Basic Needs
He stated, “Righteousness is what will change this country. That is why we emphasize: do not collect money to vote. If you are given money, return it to the person who gave it to you. We are promoting and upholding righteousness. Consider the level of inflation there. For the past three months, Ekiti has ranked highest in inflation, though I am not sure if that has changed this month. Yet, we do not hear about this. Instead, all we hear is endorsement as if everything was fine. But nobody is speaking the truth. Nobody is saying that living in Ekiti is becoming increasingly difficult. I live in the North, and in Abuja, it is easier to live in Abuja than in Ekiti. Things are cheaper in the North than in Ekiti. Yet, all we hear is endorsement, as though everything is rosy, while the people are hungry.
“That is why we are bringing this initiative. We understand that before telling people not to collect bribes or not to engage in political endorsements for survival, we must first meet their basic needs. We must put something in their stomachs so they can listen. Our mission and advocacy revolve around that, providing help and solutions so people can embrace righteousness. What we often hear in the media is that everything is fine, which is why some say leaders should return. But when you come to the ground, you see that people are hungry. Let there be food for the people. Let the issue of poverty be addressed. And then, security, I do not need to dwell too much on what is already obvious. Consider what happened a few days ago in Ekiti, where a church was attacked, yet it is being downplayed as if it did not happen there. But we are here; we know what is happening.”
