The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its members nationwide to provide assistance to vulnerable Nigerians in their neighborhoods to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 lockdown.
The party gave the directive in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan at the weekend in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan also appealed to more wealthy Nigerians to join in extending assistance to vulnerable citizens in the overall effort to contain and check the spread of the pandemic in the country.
He said that the party’s call was in line with its manifesto and guiding principles to ensure the security, wellbeing and happiness of all citizens, irrespective of creed, ethnicity and political persuasion.
The PDP scribe also appealed to Nigerians to look beyond primordial considerations and join forces to defeat the virus.
“The party, therefore, urges Nigerians to use this time to further display their spirit of brotherly care by assisting vulnerable persons around them.
“This include, particularly the aged, the unemployed, as well as individuals and families whose means of livelihood had been crippled following the restriction directives.”
Ologbondiyan urged the Federal Government to be transparent and involve more capable Nigerian medical experts, researchers as well as equipment manufacturers to assist in checking the spread of the pandemic in the country.
“The party counsels the Federal Government to bring in the hands used in winning the battle against the Ebola virus disease.
“Government should commission indigenous manufacturers, especially auto and equipment producers, to concert effort towards production of ventilators and other equipment needed in the fight against the coronavirus,” he said.
Ologbondiyan reiterated the party’s earlier commendation to the organised private sector for donations “following our call for intervention.”
He also  commended the health care providers and several other frontline workers, who had been risking their lives to safeguard the nation.
Ologbondiyan, however, called on all Nigerians to continue to pray while “observing health safety directives as we collectively defeat this pandemic.” (NAN)
Enugu APC blasts Minister, over arrest of party chieftain

Outgoing Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Bro. Felix Obuah has slammed those criticising Governor Nyesom Wike’s efforts to combat the spread of the novel Covid-19 pandemic in the state, describing them as political detractors.
Obuah in a statement issued by his media aide, Jerry Needam and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt said it was difficult to rationalise the actions of those critics while the Governor was working tirelessly to stem the spread of the virus in the State.
While describing that these critics and their sponsors as enemies of the State, the outgoing PDP chairman, said their anger stemmed from the fact that while states like Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Edo, Kaduna, Bauchi, Enugu and Ekiti were recording staggering figures in the number of cases of the pandemic, Rivers by God’s has just one case.
Obuah further described those behind what he termed ‘unwarranted arm-chair criticism’ on the Governor as unpatriotic, saying patriotic minded persons in the State would commend the Governor’s assiduous efforts to spur him into more actions.
He particularly drew the attention of those ranting over the three day curfew imposed on parts of the State along some section of Port Harcourt to the fact that he took the action to forestall opening of markets and other crowded activities, adding that states like Akwa Ibom and others are on lockdown with total restriction of movement.
The statement further reads: “It is even more appalling to think that these unpatriotic voices are the same persons who would not keep politics aside and view issues from the perspective of our common interests.
“They are rudely disappointed at the fact that Covid-19 is being curtailed by the proactive steps being taken by the Governor. For them, Rivers State should be recording more cases to satisfy their evil and political aggrandizement.”
Obuah whose tenure as the State PDP Chairman ends in May, 2020 however appealed to all and sundry to see the Covid-19 pandemic as a common enemy for which all hands must be on deck to defeat the scourge.
“This is a period our compassionate nature should prevail and show empathy to the State Governor who is having sleepless nights to ensure that Rivers people are safe and free,” Obuah stated.

As the world continues to wage war against the dreaded Coronavirus, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has appealed to the people and residents of the state to sustain the ongoing fight against spread of the virus.
He made the appeal last week while receiving food donation from Dufil Prima Foods Plc in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Governor said: “ We are aware that the COVID-19 is what we didn’t expect, but as christians, we are prayerful, believing that the situation is not going to last forever. So we are calling on our people to cooperate with the government and remain at home”.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon Bariere Thomas, assured that the food items donated by the company would get to the less privileged and thanked the firm for responding timely to the situation.
Head of Administration of Dulfil Prima Food Plc, Mr Chinedum Wali, said the company brought the food as token to assist and support the less privileged. One thousand cartons of noodles and five hundred cartons of pastas were donated.
Members of the Rivers State Executive Council, in the week under review announced the donation of their  April 2020 salaries to support the state government’s fight against coronavirus.
Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, disclosed this last Thursday, in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Also in same spirit, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, announced the donation of their one month salary in support of the  Rivers State Government’s fight against the dreaded Coronavirus in the state.
Disclosing the gesture at a press conference Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Ikuinyi -Owaji Ibani, said members arrived at the decision after an interface with the Rivers State Ministry of Health on the fight against the virus.
“As responsible representatives of our various constitutuencies, we resolved that one month salary of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly be deducted by the Ministry of Finance and remitted to the committee set up to fight coronavirus in the state”, the Speaker said.
Ikuinyi-Ibani added that the sacrifice by lawmakers was not to the exclusion of other individual contributions of members in their respective constitutuencies to ameliorate the shocks associated with the pandemic.
“We restate our commitment to the fight against coronavirus pandemic and our full support of all efforts and actions taken by the Rivers State Government to keep our people safe and healthy”, he stated.
Another major event last week in Brick House was the lifting of the curfew placed by the Rivers State Governor Chief Nyesom Wike in some parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The Governor had, in a state broadcast last Thursday lifted the curfew on Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction along Ikwerre Road and Obiri Ikwerre Junction to Ozuoba, Rumualogu and Choba effective from Friday, April 3, 2020.
He had imposed the curfew following the non adherence of traders to the directives placed by the state government.
Governor Wike also  lifted the suspension of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He said that implementation of the palliatives to cusion the effects of recent directives on the citizens would soon take place.
Last week, the Rivers State Ministry of Housing  Tenders Board officially opened bid for the sale of the uncompleted state government owned 17- storey building, formerly known as the Nigerian Stock Exchange building, in Port Harcourt.
The bidding process took place at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Housing Commissioner, Elder Chinedu Tasie Nwabueze noted that the bidding process was transparent, while civil society, professionals and the media witnessed the event.

By: Chris Oluoh