President Muhammadu Buhari’s prompt response to the discovery of a coronavirus-positive patient in Nigeria and the measures taken to prevent the spread is quite commendable.
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), while applauding the President for being proactive, berated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for what it describes as a heinous and callous attempt to politicise the issue.
According to the BMO, while the Buhari administration was busy mobilizing available human and material resources at its disposal at all level of governance to confront the dreaded disease, the PDP seemed to delight in the lone confirmed case in the country, all in a bid to deride President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Maduekwe, BMO said PDP was trying to politicise the entry of the disease in the country at a time when most developed counties around the world, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), were commending Nigeria for its proactive measures and high level of preparedness.
“All these in an attempt to undermine the Buhari administration and to score cheap political points.
“Testimonies from various travellers into Nigeria through the nation’s airports commending Nigeria for its adequate precautionary measures have confirmed the government’s commitment and efforts to prevent the spread of the disease in Nigeria.
“These testimonials are from widely travelled individuals from various parts of the world who have travelled through airports in the United Kingdom and the United States of America before coming to Nigeria. And they affirm that what they saw at Nigeria’s airports vis-à-vis a coronavirus screening is stricter than what they experienced in other airports in the world.”
BMO also drew attention to government efforts to sensitize the Nigerian public about the coronavirus disease. “All information agencies of government are virtually abuzz with enlightenment materials; press statements, press conferences, jingles in English and local languages on radio and television.
“So, this latest attempt by the PDP to cast aspersion on President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration, to divert people’s attention from various interventions the Buhari administration has been making, and to present to the world that the administration is doing nothing to confront the dreaded disease, is dead on arrival.
“We commend all government agencies involved in this endeavour- the federal and state ministries of health, state governments, government information agencies and all stakeholders- and urge them not to rest on their oars. It is gratifying that no new case has been discovered in the country and those quarantined have all proved negative,” the statement added.