PRESS RELEASE
SUBJECT: IMO OMPAN URGES IMOLITES TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT, CONTRIBUTE THEIR QUOTA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, OMPAN, Imo State Chapter has called on the good people of the State in particular and Nigerians at large to abide by the strict measures of the state and federal government in a bid to fight the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.
Imo OMPAN urged the citizens to help the government in every way they can to see that the pandemic is holistically fought and defeated squarely, noting that the stay at home and closure of major markets declaration is not an act of wickedness or taking away their sources of income but a step in the right direction to contain growing cases and eradicate the virus in the country.
The Association commends Senator Hope Uzodinma led government of Imo state for the timely constitution of a nine-man committee of renowned experts headed by Former INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu and putting up plans and measures to checkmate COVID19 in the state and call for a human face in the discharge of their duties as well as provision of sanitizers, face masks, protective wears and food items.
We urge the Government to take it up as another urgent call of duty in the face of the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic to control market price of goods which has skyrocketed since the entrance of the virus in the country and in same vein pay workers salaries and pension arrears so as to help them cope with the \’Stay At Home\’ and \’Work From Home\’ order for the timebeing and not fight hunger as well.
We also call on Imo residents and Nigerians to help themselves during this period by assisting the government in the fight against COVID19 by social distancing, Staying and working from home, self isolation, alerting the nine-man committee or government on any Coronavirus case or symptoms around them through their dedicated lines, reducing the price of goods to enable everybody buy what they need and not use the time to spread hunger.
This is a time to be your brothers\’ keeper; give to those who don\’t have food to eat, provide some protective wears for them to put on as well as share useful information to help them stay safe.
The Association frowns at the disbelief, hate speech and fake news that the Coronavirus is non-existent even in Nigeria but a political strategy of Nigerian government to siphon public funds and that some people ought to contract it, stressing that COVID19 (Coronavirus) is real and as such has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
Imo OMPAN states that the news making rounds online that cases of Coronavirus has been confirmed in Imo state and that the government is doing nothing about the fight of the virus is a big lie and an act of mischief makers noting that the committee of experts set up by the government has been working hard to checkmate the pandemic and has not reported any case.
We urge media houses; online and conventional news carriers to state to be objective in their reportage and not create or spread panic in society.
We urge all and sundry to always commit Imo state, Nigeria and the world at large to God for He knows it all and has the final say in all.
God bless Imolites
God bless Imo State.
God bless Nigeria.
God bless everyone.
Stay Safe.
ThankGod Emeh
P. R. O. Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) Imo State Chapter.
*28-03-2020*