The Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has tackled Governors Yahaya Bello and Ben Ayade over claims of zero case of the coronavirus pandemic in Kogi and Cross Rivers states respectively.
As of the time of filing this report, 2388 cases of the infection have recorded across thirty – four states and the FCT. This means only Kogi and Cross River are with no single case, according to the data from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The two-state Governors have on several occasions, boasted of the clean sheet in their states. Meanwhile, the APC chairman, who spoke on Arise TV recently, said, against the claims of the Governors, he does not believe a state is free of the virus.
“The evidence so far showed that rather than flattening the curve, the curve is rising sharply.
At the end of the week, there would be a reflection about the possible consequences if we unlock completely.”
“I have seen a Governor saying there should be no lockdown at all. Because according to him, in his own state, there is no incident of the virus.”
“I do not believe that for example, there is no state in Nigeria where there is no coronavirus. But I believe because of the level of illiteracy, because of our attitude to information, it is difficult to pronounce with confidence that there is a state where nobody has it,” He said.
Mr Oshiomhole also spoke extensively on the dangers of relaxing the lockdown as President Muhammadu had earlier announced.
Starting from Monday, selected businesses have been told to open as movement is now permitted in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States. Commenting on this, Oshiomhole said: “One will expect that at the end of the week, there’s need for serious reflection. We have to make hard choices between loosing the lockdown, free people to work.”
He noted that although some conditions have been put in place, they may be incapable of reducing the spread. “We have heard that face masks does not stop you from contacting the virus,” Oshiomhole stated.
According to him, if there is a challenge between the security of life and economic prosperity or well being, it is best to resolve it in favour of the security of life first.
“On this issue, I really don’t want to talk like I know more than anyone else because the truth is that I don’t. But what I do know is that we should listen more to those who know.”
“I think that when we unlock or relax should be formed not by political considerations but by scientific findings. This is the time we should listen to the experts who know about public health, who have the facts of the lockdown.”
“I don’t lockdown my brain. If in their judgement, they think we should relax, then, we should. If they think we shouldn’t, we should not.”
“Personally, I worry. I mix with everybody, vertically and horizontally and when people tell me that if they don’t work how are they going to survive. But I also ask, if they are sick and they are dying, how are they going to survive.”
The party Chairman explained that if more people are exposed to the virus, the kind of experience in Italy, Spain and other countries, will play out in Nigeria as well. He warned against the relaxation of the lockdown in some states and sparing others, citing the case of Kano.
“The truth is there are no rigid boundaries in Nigeria. You may know of the Federal highways, no one is able to know the local ways.” he said.
My question is this, before the covid 19 pandemic, has we Nigerian not be dieing? Relax the lock down let business activities comence. People are suffering in this country. Politicians are enjoying themselves with their families. Even the monetary donation by firms and individual to shear for the citizens, they embelzel it . Which way Nigeria?