Senator Ifeanyi Uba
THE government of Anambra state has distanced itself from the alleged independent fundraising by the senator representing Anambra South in the upper chamber, Ifeanyi Ubah in the state under the guise of Convid-19 which it stated the state government was neither consulted nor informed about the development.
This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner of Information & Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba titled “ANAMBRA Covid-19 Account: A Clarification” on Wednesday at Awka stating that the clarification became necessary on account of number of unending calls the state government has received over the parallel fund-drive.
The Commissioner stated that the government was shocked that such activities with hidden agenda were going on in the state without the knowledge of the government which has set up a fundraising on the same task with a robust mechanism for transparency and accountability, and therefore questioned the objective behind such suspicious activities by an individual in the state.
Adinuba in his clarifications stated that the state government will not be held liable for any funds donated to Ifeanyi Ubah’s parallel fundraising drive as the state government has no knowledge of what the activities are meant for adding that all over the country, concerned citizens that have supported the federal and state government with funds so far didn’t create independent fundraising drive in their respective states. The statement reads;
“Since the launch last week of the Anambra State COVID-19 account in the determination to fight the spread of the coronavirus in the state, a lot of people from the state and beyond have been calling officials of the state government to complain that they confuse it with the funds drive by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in the name of mobilization of resources from wealthy indigenes to launch a campaign against the highly contagious disease.
“Until these individuals and organizations began to complain about the confusion they face while seeking to contribute funds to the Anambra people, the state government was not aware of the funds drive by Senator Ubah. In other words, the state government is not part of Senator Ubah’s funds drive. Our people should, therefore, not confuse the two. Ubah did not consult us before he started his solo enterprise, nor has he, to this moment, sought to work with the state government. The state government does not sanction his activities.
“Successful entrepreneurs like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr Herbert Wigwe, Chief and Mrs Folorunso Alakija, Dr Mike Adenuga and Mr Tony Elumelu, who are not indebted to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), have contributed significantly to the campaign against the coronavirus, and they have at every point worked in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Government and the Lagos State government. They are not executing hidden agendas.
“Here in Anambra State, such eminently patriotic individuals as Dr. Ernest Obiejesi, Chief Allen Onyema and Dr. Clement Nwogbo have contributed handsomely to the Anambra State government’s effort to check the spread of the highly infectious scourge in our state. They recognise that it is immoral to play politics with the lives of millions of our people. It is, in fact, unconscionable and a mortal sin to politicize the current fight against COVID-19.
“Those recognized by the state government as genuinely contributing to the campaign against the viral outbreak are the Federal Government, individuals and organizations working with the state to prevent the plague from our place and mitigate it if it should eventually find its way into our state. Our people need to be guided accordingly.
“COVID-19 is not only in Nigeria but the number of cases is increasing rapidly. The whole country has a crisis on its hands. It is strange for any person to create the impression that the solution is to start looking for funds from wealthy individuals from Anambra State with the promise to build a brand new hospital which will certainly take a very long time to complete. Worse, it will take time and resources to equip such a hospital and then hire the right calibre of staff like doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists trained in the management of viral cases. This is why serious-minded Nigerians who can easily build hospitals on their own are aligning with the Federal Government as well as state governments to equip existing hospitals and motivate the staff members who are on the frontlines in the battle against the coronavirus.
“We thank all people from Anambra State and beyond for their support to the state government’s efforts to keep our beloved state free of the coronavirus and its ravaging effects. We urge them to contribute immensely to the Anambra State COVID-19 account with Fidelity Bank number 5030112159. Those who would like to donate equipment, medicines and others are advised to send them to the office of the Secretary to the State Government in Government House, Awka. Every donation will be well acknowledged, well utilized and evidence provided in the public domain.
“As is already known, the state needs plenty of tools and equipment like respirators, personal protection equipment, testing kits, surgical masks and hospital beds. We have three isolation centres located at Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Awka and Onitsha General Hospital. We also have surge centres to take care of excess patients from these hospitals if the need arises. The surge centres are at the Umueri General Hospital in Anambra East Local Government Area, Ekwulobia General Hospital in Aguata Local Government Area, and the National Youth Service Corps Camp in Mbaukwu/Umuawulu, Awka South Local Government Area.
“In addition, we are working very hard to get the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to accredit Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital as a testing centre. Its mega laboratory, which can test 500 specimens at the same time, meets global standards; the only thing it is lacking is reagents. We are also working towards the accreditation of Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital as a testing centre. The heroic efforts of the state administration need considerable resources to come to fruition.
“This is the time for our people to demonstrate, once again, our well known philosophy of solidarity known over the ages as “Onye aghana nwanne ya”. It is the secret of the triumph of ndi Anambra against all odds”, Adinuba stated.
Nice information
This in fighting is absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for. While the state could go on making efforts to fight the scourge Coronavirus, individuals, organisations and churches could also go ahead mobilising their supports towards fighting the pandemic from all fronts. This is what happens at the federal level where many Nigerians including prominent persons of South east origin have made huge donations. These individuals have a right to channel their donations to the same purpose. It becomes naively tendentious to condemn anyone making effort to fight the pandemic. To say that the effort of the other than that of the government is a suspect is malicious, derogatory and a blackmail. Senator Ifeanyi Uba donated 1 bn to the National committee charged to coordinate the donations for the pandemic fight. He represents a people in the Senate and could raise funds for the special needs of his constituents. Nobody can stop him from doing that. Good politics is one that gives everyone space to contribute positively to the welfare of the people irrespective of political affiliations,. I encourage all other senators from Anambra state to tow the line of Senator Ifeanyi Uba and do something special in their zones.