The
third address of President Muhammadu Buhari on COVID-19 offered no solution to protect
Nigerians from the pandemic.
third address of President Muhammadu Buhari on COVID-19 offered no solution to protect
Nigerians from the pandemic.
In a statement by its spokesperson,
Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party expressed disappointment that
President Buhari did not offer any post lockdown stimulus to assist Nigerians
in the private sector whose businesses had been crippled by the lockdown and
are now faced with the burden of workers’ salaries and business refinancing.
Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party expressed disappointment that
President Buhari did not offer any post lockdown stimulus to assist Nigerians
in the private sector whose businesses had been crippled by the lockdown and
are now faced with the burden of workers’ salaries and business refinancing.
They lamented that apart from the
elementary lockdown and failed palliative distribution, President Buhari did
not offer a decisive solution regarding the production of drugs, testing kits
and management of equipment to safeguard Nigerians, despite the huge resources
at the disposal of his administration.
elementary lockdown and failed palliative distribution, President Buhari did
not offer a decisive solution regarding the production of drugs, testing kits
and management of equipment to safeguard Nigerians, despite the huge resources
at the disposal of his administration.
“The party further described as
saddening that President did not address the demands by Nigerians to end his
administration’s political parochialism and engage competent hands, including
indigenous researchers, equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical, medical as
well as virology experts to infuse homegrown therapeutic solutions in the
overall effort.
saddening that President did not address the demands by Nigerians to end his
administration’s political parochialism and engage competent hands, including
indigenous researchers, equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical, medical as
well as virology experts to infuse homegrown therapeutic solutions in the
overall effort.
“The party insists that had President
heeded this demand by Nigerians at the onset of the pandemic, the situation
would not have escalated to this frightening level with no solutions in sight.
heeded this demand by Nigerians at the onset of the pandemic, the situation
would not have escalated to this frightening level with no solutions in sight.
“PDP, therefore, invites Nigerians to
observe how countries like Senegal had effectively mobilised their indigenous
medical researchers and manufacturers to produce low-cost quick testing kits as
well as ventilators while investing massively in the production of drugs for
the treatment of COVID-19 patients,” the statement read in part.
observe how countries like Senegal had effectively mobilised their indigenous
medical researchers and manufacturers to produce low-cost quick testing kits as
well as ventilators while investing massively in the production of drugs for
the treatment of COVID-19 patients,” the statement read in part.
The party said it has completely lost
faith in the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, demanding an immediate
revamp of the task force. They also urged President Buhari to provide
post-COVID lockdown stimulus to the private sector.
faith in the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, demanding an immediate
revamp of the task force. They also urged President Buhari to provide
post-COVID lockdown stimulus to the private sector.
“The PDP demands an immediate
reorganization of the PTF to eliminate political underlining and vest the
responsibility on known experts to galvanize our public and private
institutions for solutions.
reorganization of the PTF to eliminate political underlining and vest the
responsibility on known experts to galvanize our public and private
institutions for solutions.
“The PDP urged President Buhari to
immediately rally efforts within the public and private sectors to provide post
lockdown stimulus for the private sector while eliminating corruption to ensure
the distribution of palliatives to target vulnerable citizens”.
immediately rally efforts within the public and private sectors to provide post
lockdown stimulus for the private sector while eliminating corruption to ensure
the distribution of palliatives to target vulnerable citizens”.
