The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has come hard on the Imo State Government for allegedly adopting a careless approach to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement issued by the state secretary of the party, Hon (Nze) Ray Emeana, the party posited that the Imo State government under Senator Hope Uzodinma seems to be at loss as to what to do and still wallowing on the hope and assumption that there are no reported case in Imo State even as there no screening centres in the state.
According to the party in the statement “Recently the State Government set up a committee headed by Prof. Maurice Iwu, surprisingly thereafter the committee and the State Government appear to have gone to sleep or more appropriately confused as what proper action to take. This is most unfortunate as we appear to be in a race against time. It is this complacency or arrogance that has led the United States to overtake China with the highest number of infected citizens. A scenario we can’t afford given our poor economic and medical status.
“So far, all we have heard in Imo State, unlike other States is the banning and closing down of markets, churches, schools, public gatherings bla bla bla. Not a single isolation centre has been set up anywhere in the state. No screening centres have been announced or individual screening going on anywhere. Surprisingly the Governor failed to announce the location of screening centres, if any in his broadcast to the state. Face masks and sanitizers promised by the Uzodinma government are not available yet, no palliatives for the citizens being asked to stay at home.
“This is a disaster, to say the least!
“While we are not expecting much from an I’ll prepared government foisted on us by the Supreme Court, we expect Prof. Iwu and his committee members, having accepted the offer to serve, to step up and save Imo from this impending catastrophe or speak up if they have challenges as Imo citizens will hold them accountable should the worst happen.
“There is no single doubt in our my minds whatsoever on the professional credibility of Professor Maurice Iwu – an eminent Professor of Pharmacognosy who is, eminently qualified to lead the COVID-19 team in Imo State or anywhere in the world, but the emerging situation in the state speaks volumes on the capability of the protocol put in place, so far to combat this deadly scourge. This is even more worrisome considering that the committee Chairman seems to be busy with similar assignments nationally and internationally.
“The committee should without further delay embark on the following:
Screening of all commuters at points of entry into the State and in all motor parks, markets, hospitals and all public places.
Publicly announce the screening centres.
“Commence the disinfection of all markets, hospitals, motor parks, and all public places.
Enforce social distancing.
Embark on massive distribution of hand sanitizers, buckets, and soaps and face masks.
Above all this is not a time to play politics with the salary of workers and pensioners.
Government should in addition announce palliatives for citizens being asked to stay at home.
“On our part as an opposition Party, we have commenced the distribution of face masks, hand sanitizers, and other items through our members in the State House of Assembly, the National Assembly and the Rebuild Imo Agenda Team as well as aggressive public awareness” he added.
