•Star donor Peter Obi
By PAMELA EBOH, Awka
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Family in Anambra State has again made laudable commitment to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic by taking urgent steps in ensuring that a standard COVID-19 testing centre is set up in the state and by sharing relief materials and cash worth millions of naira to the poor and vulnerable people of society.
At a press briefing organised by the party at their State Secretariat on Saturday, 16 May 2020, the Chairman, Anambra PDP Palliative Committee, Dr. Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe, said that Anambra PDP had mapped out a total sum of N125 million as a ‘post lockdown cash and other material welfare support’ to Ndi Anambra. Dr. Onyemelukwe explained that the total sum would be channelled into ‘supporting our people, especially the most vulnerable ones, to get back on their feet’, while committing to set up a standard COVID-19 testing centre in the State.
INN gathers that out of the 36 contributors to the relief fund, former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, donated N40 million.
Others donors include Chief Obiora Okonkwo, N2.5m; a governorship candidate of the party in the 2017, Mr. Oseloka Obaze and his deputy, and Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe, as well as Mr. Godwin Ezeemo (N1m each).
It was gathered that members of the Senate contributed N10 million each; House of Reps N5 million each while members of the House of Assembly donated N1 million each.
Speaking at the party’s office in Awka on Saturday, the state chairman, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, said that the intervention was to complement the efforts of the federal and state governments towards cushioning the effects of the novel Coronavirus pandemic on the people of the state.
He hailed the efforts of health workers who had been in the forefront in the fight against the deadly pandemic.
Nwobu further inaugurated a nine-man Anambra PDP COVID-19 Welfare Committee headed by Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe.
He also appreciated members of the Board of Trustees of the party who made handsome contributions.
Giving a breakdown on how the money would be spent, Onyemelukwe said that it will set up a COVID-19 testing centre in the next 21 days as soon as the state government makes a space available to the party.
She announced that N300,000 would be shared to every community in the state with the view to support the less privileged and most vulnerable.
The committee chairperson said: “Sixty persons/families will be supported with the sum of N5,000 each to feed or build their businesses.
“The committee, which already has N125 million in its kitty, will use N12 million for the three health institutions and two isolation centres in the state with medical equipment while the wards in the health facilities would get N105,000 worth of food items and cash.”
Onyemelukwe added that the palliatives would be distributed to people irrespective of political affiliation but for the sake of humanity.
Speaking through his Media Aide, Barr. Valentine Obienyem, Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, disclosed that he was aware of the challenges facing the less privileged people of Anambra State, especially in this coronavirus pandemic. Obi said he will stop at nothing in helping people live well and stay safe during this pandemic. He praised the Anambra PDP Family, who in spite of the difficult times, rose to the challenge and made laudable sacrifices to help the poor.
On setting up a COVID-19 testing centre, Obi said it was needed urgently as the government needed to carry out more aggressive testing so as to ascertain the level of the spread of the infection in the state.
Obi said: “Considering the strategic role Anambra State plays as a commercial hub in the South East, it is imperative to set-up a COVID-19 testing and in the state.”
He assured that when the Federal Government of Nigeria or Anambra State Government provided a space, the COVID-19 testing centre would be set-up within 21 days.