BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – As the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies, Ibo community resident in Bauchi State have been called upon to come to the aid of the state government by donating generously to the purse of the State Taskforce on COVID-19 and Lassa fever as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
A member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, representing Bauchi Central state constituency, Hon. Jamilu Dahiru Barade made the appeal when he met with leaders and representatives of Igbo community in Bauchi on Sunday.
The lawmaker noted that the Igbo community in Bauchi own major shops and businesses in the state, hence the need for them to reciprocate the gesture “especially in this trying moments when all hands ought to be on deck to salvage the situation”.
Dahiru further said; “The Ibo in Bauchi hold the economic nerve of the state in terms of trades and other commercial businesses, they are richer than anyone in the state; therefore they should reciprocate the gesture by graciously supporting the state government in the fight against the scourge of coronavirus”.
While opining that without Ibo in Bauchi State, the fate of businesses would have remained doomed, Dahiru urged them to donate in cash or kind in order to support the State Taskforce in reducing the effect as well as assist to contain the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.
Also speaking, the District Head of Bauchi, who is also the Chiroman Bauchi, Alhaji Nura Adamu Jumba commended the lawmaker for summoning the meeting but regretted that the new leadership of the Ibo community in Bauchi has not paid him any familiarization visit let alone collaborate with him on developmental issues affecting the metropolis.
Jumba however commended the Ibo community for living in peace with other tribes and urged them to support the state government “in kind or cash” in order to cushion the effect of COVID-19 in Bauchi.
Responding, the President General of the Ibo community in Bauchi, Engr. Dominic Nkwocha attributed the inability of the Igbo community to make donations to calls for self-isolation and social distancing but assured that they will respond appropriately.
Nkwocha said; “It was a very serious oversight on our side, but I want to assure the people of Bauchi State that we have always proudly associated with them and we shall quickly call a meeting and respond as quickly as possible.”
The meeting was attended by leaders of the various Igbo communities resident in Bauchi as well as other prominent Ibo business men and women.
