Group launches food bank in Ekiti to tackle inflation, poverty

A group under the auspices of the Righteous People’s Movement (TRIPOM), in partnership with the Old Catholic International Missionary Society of St. Christopher & Caritas Sustainable Development Foundation, has unveiled food bank in Ekiti State to tackle inflation and poverty. The Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church Nigeria and President of African Old Catholic Churches, Most Rev. Oluwaseun Fagbohun, who is the convener of the food bank initiative, spoke at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti. Speaking during the unveiling of the food bank, Rev. Fagbohun explained that the food bank is just, niche or a generic name, that signifies rendering assistance in areas of need of vulnerable people that may not necessarily be foodstuffs. He disclosed that the TRIPOM has received suppors from some local organizations and others based in Uk, Canada, Japan, among others to achieve its mission of providing for the needy so as to scale down poverty. Bishop Fagbohun raised concerns over worsening poverty, rising insecurity and a disconnect between political players 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 criticised the prioritisation of political endorsements while economic realities are ignored, maintaining that addressing poverty should be central to governance, especially during an election season, urging leaders to prioritise citizens’ welfare over political campaigns. According to him, the concept of the “Food Bank” goes beyond physical food distribution, describing it as 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. His words, “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.