IPOB budgets N300m to fight Covid-19, announces initial donation of N50m

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday said it had budgeted N300 million to fight Covid-19 pandemic in ‘Biafra land’.

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who disclosed this, said the group would make initial donation of N50 million.

He made the announcement in an audio broadcast, noting that the contingency fund was from IPOB’s coffers.

According to Kanu, part of the money would be used to equip some hospitals located at strategic centres in the South East zone to tackle the pandemic.

He said, “We never knew that the virus is coming, we have commitments all over the world, we are committing initial N50 million to make sure we educate and prepare our people for what is to come.

“We will establish one hospital in every state of Biafra including Edo State. We are going to open food store for the people. If you are to confine the people at home, you must make sure they don’t die of hunger. We are even going to feed those who are not IPOB members. This is what advanced countries are doing for their people.

Kanu said that his group for the period, would be sheathing their swords for the sake of suffering Biafrans.

He then appealed to the governors and private companies to ensure prompt payment of their workers’ salaries throughout the pandemic period.

“I am worried for Africa and humanity but my primary concern is for the people of Biafra,” he said, advising people not to embark on unimportant travel and to abide by all directives, and take precautionary measures to ensure they survived the scourge.

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“We do not have the hospitals that can sustain the pandemic. The outbreak of the disease has put Nigeria to shame. All these years of looting, telling people lies of building hospitals has exposed the government insincerity,” he added.

It is still unclear how the group will partner with government in carrying out its claim, since it is still proscribed as a group in the country.

Its leader, Kanu is still wanted after he jumped bail, left the country and refused to return to face his ongoing trial for alleged treason.

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