It was avalanche of accolades for Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje when on Thursday he launched a COVID-19 Sample Collection Centre basically for non natives within the Sabon Gari axis of the ancient commercial city of Kano.
Residents who hailed Ganduje’s entourage from their door fronts as it veeered into Middle Road Hospital to commission the Centre, described him as a nationalist and detribalized leader who puts the interest of all at heart irrespective of ethnic or religious inclinations.
The Sample Collection Centre is made to capture mostly non-natives who are pre-dorminantly resident in the area.
This is part of Ganduje’s efforts to established Sample Collection Centre across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state so as the future strengthen the fight against Corona Virus pandemic.
Speaking during the occasion, Ganduje said, “this occasion is a promise that we undertook some time ago because we have functional testing centres in Kano, we should have enough samples to feed this testing centre and in order to get samples, what is important is mobilization of the people, and also the creation of the collection centre and here is the collection centre for the good people of Sabin Gari.
” We establish this here today so that they can find it convenient and easy to come and present themselves for the collection of the samples that would be forwarded to the laboratories testing.
“I assure you that Kano State Government is doing all it takes to ensure that this pandemic comes to an end in due course. We are trying our best, we want the people of Kano State to appreciate and obey the protocols of COVID-19, so that the transmission of this infectious disease is curtailed, without further delay.
“Already, we know that community transmission has started. Therefore, we have to go to the grassroots in terms of advocacy, in terms of public enlightenment and in terms of response by the people, so as to put our heads together in order to save our lives.
“We know the lockdown is biting hard but it’s something that is absolutely necessary for the moment. But we have to assure you that we will provide an enabling environment for you to know your status because knowing your status whether you are positive of negative is very important for individuals.
” If you are positive, we take you to the Isolation centre or we allow you to stay in your home, complying with the rules and regulations of COVID-19, so that you take care of yourself and the health workers will be coming to your house, advice and give whatever medication they can give you until you test negative, and recover from the infection.
“For those, who are found negative, then they are free from infection and take precautionary measures, so as not to test positive next time. So, I appeal to the good people of Sabon Gari to make the best use of this collation centre, so as to know their status. i assure you that this is the only way we break this transmission of this infectious disease.”
Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Kano branch, Rev. Adeolu Samuel Adeyemo, described Ganduje as a detribalized leader who carry people along irrespective of ethnic and religious background.
According to him, “you (Ganduje) made the promise to establish a Sample Collection Centre here in Sabon Gari; and after a week and two days, you fulfilled it.
“You are our Governor. You are the Governor of the people, irrespective of tribe and religion. On behalf of both Christians and Muslims, and indeed, everyone living in Sabon Gari, we say thank you.
“We are going to propagate this good deed of yours in our churches. Everyone with the symptoms of Corona Virus must be tested. We thank you for this facility.”
Also speaking, Eze Ndigbo in Kano, His Highness, Igwe Boniface Ibekwe called of Federal Government to complement Kano’s effort in the fight against COVID-19.
He said Governor Ganduje has shown true leadership as he has demonstrated admirable political will to battle thebpandemic, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to provide Kano with a thangible lifeline that can augment Ganduje’s efforts.
He further stated that, “all what you (Ganduje) are doing is in the open. People are seeing it. You are saving Nigeria because whatever affects Kano affects Nigeria. We thank you for the Sample Collection Centre. We thank you for the palliatives, we received our own Palliatives and we shared it to the poorest of the poor among us.
We appeal to the Federal Government to look into Kano’s case. The state government has been spending money ensuring that this COVID-19 is eradicated. It is our view that Kano should receive tremendous support from President Muhammadu Buhari.”
