Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has called on the international community to renew its assistance to Haiti, which he noted, has not overcome the destruction by the deadly earthquake that hit the country in 2010.

Obi made the call on Sunday, while presenting a $200,000 cheque, which the governors of the South-east and other well-spirited individuals raised for the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

Obi, who was accompanied by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi, Bishop Hilary Okeke; the state Commissioners for Information and Culture, JoeMartins Uzodike and Bob Manuel Udokwu respectively, said many nations and organisations pledged one form of assistance or the other to Haiti soon after the quake, but that not all of them had redeemed their pledges and called on those yet to redeem to do so for the sake of humanity.

“What befell Haiti was so much for her to handle without assistance and I believe that helping them in the rebuilding is one of the ways to show the brotherhood of all men,” Obi said.

Recalling what the condition was in 2010, Obi said though reconstruction was still ongoing, the pace was slow and that by now, those makeshift tents ought not to be seen again.

On the choice of contributing towards the re-building of the Cathedral, the governor said the tragedy of the Cathedral was the most touching, as it buried the then Archbishop of Port Au Prince, Joseph miot; The Vicar General; the Diocesan Chancellor; 54 Religious; 14 Major Seminarians and seven priests alive.

“Our intervention was targeted at one of the institutions worst hit by that natural tragedy,” he said.

On whether the gesture of the South-east governors had anything to do with the support of Haiti to Igbos during the Biafran war, Obi said that they did not even think along that direction, saying that genuine assistance to mankind should not be tied to favour received in the past.

The handing over of the cheque was witnessed at the ruins of the destroyed cathedral by the Papal Nuncio to Haiti, Bernardito Auza; the Archbishop of Port-Au-prince, Guire Poulard; his Auxiliary, Eric Glandas Toussaint, the Secretary of the Nunciature, Fr. Giuseppe Trentadue, Joe Martins Uzodike, Bob Manuel Udokwu, among others

The Nuncio thanked the Governor for the gesture and assured him of prayers for him and for Nigeria


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/obi-calls-for-renewed-assistance-to-haiti/124015/

Haiti deserved it after all they are biafran ally

Charity begins at home.

Stallion77: Charity begins at home.

Charity began a long time ago and it began at home...

Africa needs to help Haiti in any way It can.

Let them give them anyting.as long as my daily food is on the table(cassava bread&cassava flakes)

This is a welcome development. I applaud Obi for his kind gestures. Am sure this aint abt returnin favours rendered to the defunct Biafra Republic durin the war. Am proud of the Igbos, they are very kind hearted and accomodating.

A country introducing N5000 note, actually needs more help than a country whose currency is pegged at 1 to 1 with the US dollar.

What a nonsense this is absurd and stupidity of highest order. How could such donation be justified when our people are picking crumbs,that is two face hypocrites.

@Post

That was kind of the governor. Haiti needs every financial assistance they can get but we should not forget that they are also millions of Nigerians that need help too. It's not all about being a goody two shoes to other nations while our citizens rot in abject poverty. I'm just saying.

Great benevolence. Haiti indeed needs urgent help. If it were man made, it can be excused but when it is a natural disaster even the wealthiest country will appreciate anything from any country.
Kudos eastern governors: a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Obi should start helping people from his state first.

skerries: What a nonsense this is absurd and stupidity of highest order. How could such donation be justified when our people are picking crumbs,that is two face hypocrites.

Which of your people are picking crumbs, i mean, can you name them?

A gesture which wud av been perfect if it that state could raise twice that amount 2 help itself . . . This is like a case of a poor man giving out suits when he is in rags

andyanders: [b]Governor Obi, you have done well. Nigerians are trying just Like what Prophet T.B Joshua did for Haiti during the earthquake crisis in Haiti. Prophet T.B.Joshua and Emmanuel TV Partners sent donation of millions of dollars, nurses and manpower to Haiti. Thank you Governor Obi, thank you Senior Prophet T.B.Joshua and members of Emmanuel TV Partners.[/b]

was that necessary?

Shaw007: A gesture which wud av been perfect if it that state could raise twice that amount 2 help itself . . . This is like a case of a poor man giving out suits when he is in rags

somtimes i wonder d kind of pepl dat coment in ds forum.must u be stomach fild b4 u rendr an arm of asistance 2 a felow broda in ned.ds a con3 dat ws declerd an emergency area nd dia is a world wide clamour 4 asistance nd a particular pepl in a conf answrd d cal wic is a glory 2 nija.y all ds madnes

There are pple in Anambra who are living in a lot more deplorable state than what is obtainable in Haiti Mr. Obi,focus on them and lv Haiti alone. They hav more than enuf international support. Help ur own people!

I agree with Gov. Obi. Even though we have our own struggles, we still need to show our people across the Atlantic that we haven't forgotten them and that we stand with them. This gesture is more than financial; it is ideological. Black Power!

mai gaskiya: somtimes i wonder d kind of pepl dat coment in ds forum.must u be stomach fild b4 u rendr an arm of asistance 2 a felow broda in ned.ds a con3 dat ws declerd an emergency area nd dia is a world wide clamour 4 asistance nd a particular pepl in a conf answrd d cal wic is a glory 2 nija.y all ds madnes

U must nob stomach filled but u shud hav somtin ind stomach first. Its nt like he shudnt send assistance 2dm. The issue is he shud show dsame amount of care and concern 2d pple who voted in 2 power in d first place.

Helping others you are better off than no matter how small is Godly, kudos to the SE governors.

Nice move from the south east Governors,haiti has been a friend of the eastern nigerians and a wise man don't loose friends instead he makes More!kudos

savcy: There are pple in Anambra who are living in a lot more deplorable state than what is obtainable in Haiti Mr. Obi,focus on them and lv Haiti alone. They hav more than enuf international support. Help ur own people!

68 dislikes!

^^
For your church mind now, you feel say you don yarn abi?

There is so much stupidity in NL. People against this gesture are doing so because of tribal-jealousy.

Or better still, train soldier(recruitment of both militants&cultist) to liberated biafra..

savcy: There are pple in Anambra who are living in a lot more deplorable state than what is obtainable in Haiti Mr. Obi,focus on them and lv Haiti alone. They hav more than enuf international support. Help ur own people!

Just like there are a lot more wreched people from T. B Joshua's village. And from america, while Bill Gate handed a bulk of his wealth to war/hunger torn Africans. Let us use our brains at times, the fact that we have a tongue without metre and a free air, doesn't give us the audacity to unbar our oral cavity carelessly.

2mch: A country introducing N5000 note, actually needs more help than a country whose currency is pegged at 1 to 1 with the US dollar.

Lovely