By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded his rival at the 2019 presidential election, Mr Atiku Abubakar, for donating to help in the joint fight against the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The President, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, stated that this action was worthy of emulation.
Mr Buhari also saluted the public-spiritedness of wealthy Nigerians and organisations for standing up to be counted in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from Mr Atiku of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the President commended members of the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19, made of people like Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Herbert Wigwe, Segun Agbaje and Jim Ovia of UBA, Access, GT, and Zenith Banks, respectively, for contributing N1 billion each, and being in the vanguard of encouraging others in the private sector to do same.
UBA has equally donated the sum of N5 billion to Nigeria and Africa, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged N50 million, while First Bank is partnering with government, the United Nations, and innovative technological firms to provide e-learning solutions to at least one million children under its Keep Them Engaged, Keep Them Safe initiative.
The President extolled every other helping hand that has been lent by individuals, groups and organisations, which may not necessarily be in the public domain, noting that God who sees all things will abundantly recompense.
“President Buhari recommends these laudable strides to other high net-worth Nigerians and organizations, stressing that hand in hand, the country will overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic, and chart new course in nationalism and brotherhood,” Mr Adesina said in the statement issued on Friday.
Adedapo Adesanya