IgbereTV reports that former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, on Friday donated N10m to the Anambra State COVID-19 Fund.
Anambra state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba made this news available to IgbereTV. According to Don Adinuba, when the money was paid this afternoon into the Fidelity Bank account of Anambra COVID-19 Fund, he called Prof. Soludo to acknowledge the kind gesture. âYou donât need to thank me. It is our collective responsibility to rise up to the historic challenge of this moment and support the excellent leadership of our Governor in his proactive efforts to shield our people or minimize the damages of the COVID-19 scourgeâ, Soludo said.
Soludo also commended the efforts of the Federal Government, the Bishops and clergy of the various church denominations in Anambra, the market associations, traditional rulers, leaders of town unions, political parties, civil society organizations, teachers and public servants, students and youths, captains of industry, and indeed all Anambra people for their unity of purpose in co-operating with the government to defeat the common threat.
âI am working hard with my foundation and friends on the finishing phase of a 120-bed hospital we are building, which will be managed by the Church, as well as contribution to my Partyâs COVID-19 Fund. We are also mobilizing resources and doing quite a lot at the community level, but you know that I donât indulge in what I call opportunistic charity and so I wonât talk more about these. The point is that a time like this requires everyone to do something, however little, to helpâ, Soludo added.
Prof. Soludo particularly praised Gov. Obiano for the comprehensive plan to combat the virus, and more so the compassionate stimulus package to lessen the hardship of the lockdown on the most vulnerable.
Professor Soludo expressed satisfaction with the stateâs preparedness and farsightedness in the campaign against the coronavirusâ, citing the 16-bed bed isolation centre at the Onitsha General Hospital and the 240- bed isolation centre at the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Complex at Mbaukwu-Umuawaulu in Awka South Local Government Area, renovation of Ekwulobia and Umueri General Hospitals, as good examples of effective measures to mitigate the disease if it gets into the state.
He also praised the state government for training medical personnel like doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and even cleaners in the professional management of viral cases. âStillâ, he noted, âa lot still needs to be done like the provision of more personal protection equipment, face masks, ventilators, ICU equipment, medicines and other materialsâ.
âThis is the time we must all rise, irrespective of political affiliations or status, to be our neighboursâ keeper. I commend the national Chairman of APGA, Ozonkpu (Dr.) Victor Oye, for his initiative in mobilizing resources for the most vulnerable members of the party during this lockdown (in the spirit of its motto: âbe your brotherâs and sisterâs keeperâ) and I urge other political parties to emulate this. At a time like this, no one is too poor to give: if everyone gives N10, we will mobilize millions! Let everyone who can, send âsomethingââjust any amount— to that COVID-19 bank account and do something for your neighbourâ, Soludo concluded.
