The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for extending the lockdown order currently in place in Lagos, Abuja and other states in the country.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the president extended the lockdown in a statement issued on Saturday evening and signed his media aide, Garba Shehu.
Buhari, however, appealed to Nigerians to endure the lockdown, adding that palliatives have since been released to cushion the effect of the stay-at-home order.
In a statement on Saturday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP expressed support for the extension of the lockdown so as to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.
Ologbondiyan, however, called on the Federal Government to be transparent with the palliatives to the vulnerable in order to help Nigerians not feel the effect of the lockdown.
He said, “The PDP has never been opposed to a lockdown. Our candid position is that the government should provide palliatives because the majority of Nigerians are in the informal sector. They are the tomato sellers, the Uber drivers, motorcycle and tricycle riders, vulcanisers and the mechanics. They run our economy. And as such, we ask the Federal Government to provide a means of sustaining this group of Nigerians who run our economy for the period during which they have been forced to stay at home and have been denied their means of survival.
“But what did you get? You find a situation where a loaf of bread is being given to a household of 10 people and a cup of rice is being given to breadwinners to go and feed their families. Nigerians are becoming scared, they are worried and they are afraid that it appears that they are being driven away or shielded from coronavirus only to be killed by ‘hunger-virus.’ That is the issue. Our position is that the Federal Government must have a holistic approach to fighting coronavirus. If you ask the people to stay at home, then you must provide palliatives. They must provide incentives that will keep them at home.
“We are not opposed to an extension of the lockdown if, in the wisdom of the Federal Government, it will help in reducing the coronavirus.”
Next tomorrow will make it my 3 good weeks of staying at home without crossing the main road, as a family man, whether extension or not, I have completed my own because I don’t have 1kobo with me now, so, that’s their own cup of tea and I’m tired.
Extending the lockdown is not the problem.The rate of which crimes are being committed since this lockdown is alarming and the Government seems not to care about the well being of the citizens .Other countries of the World provides means of survival for their citizens.Many people depend on daily for ncome to survive and most people have spent all their savings.Not only that, after the lockdown ,what will happen to those who have spent their business capital.The citizens are suffering and Government are only concerned about lockdown not mindful of what will become of the people during lockdown and after.These people don’t care because they have the power and money so it is easy for them to survive during this lockdown.
I just weep for this conuntry honestly.
Please im pleading to our honorable leaders, please they should help us with little cash to feed with, on this extension of the lagos lockdown. Please we are nt commanding u but we are pleading, please help us sir. We are really dying of hunger, may God bless u all and with the help of God we shall overcome this COVID19 AMEN