Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State have raised N120 million as an intervention fund to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

According to a statement by the PDP leaders made available to journalists on Saturday, the sum will be donated to about 178 communities in the state for onward distribution to the less privileged families and vulnerable persons.

The initiative, led by Mr. Peter Obi, the immediate past governor of Anambra State, is a leading intervention and the first of its kind by any political party in Nigeria since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Some major contributors to the fund include elected PDP officials from Anambra, Senator Stella Oduah, Douglas Egbuna, respected business leader, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo and several others.

The PDP leaders collectively pledged a total of N120 million.

The donation will go to 60 persons and families in each community as post-lockdown community support.

Also, N42 million will be used to provide food and other items directly to all wards in the southeastern state.

From the fund, items and cash worth N15 million will be donated to Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching

Hospital, Nnewi; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka; General Hospital, Onitsha and other hospitals and health centres.

In the statement, the PDP leaders and other donors gave a message of hope and empathy stating:

“With the announced relaxation of the lockdown, PDP family in Anambra State is not unaware of the challenges facing the less privileged ones among us.

“While we know that the federal government and the Anambra State Government will be doing a lot to help the people restart life again, we in PDP Anambra deem it imperative as a party to, once again, support our people to get back on their feet, especially the most vulnerable ones among them who might have exhausted all they had while trying to survive during the lockdown.”

In making this donation, the Anambra PDP enjoined every Nigerian to work together as a family because Covi-19 is neither political, tribal, nor religious. (THISDAY)