The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that but for the negligence of the Buhari presidency, coronavirus would never have found its way into Nigeria.
According to the party, the presidency’s “laid back attitude to governance and the welfare of Nigerians” led the nation to record its index case of coronavirus on Thursday.
PDP’s stance was conveyed in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Friday.
The party said that because Buhari’s government was not alive to its responsibilities as usual, it “took no concrete steps to hedge our nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation.”
It added that a responsive and proactive government would have mobilised effective surveillance and screening measures to ward off the menace, particularly at the nation’s entry points.
“But the incompetent, insensitive and indifferent Buhari administration, was more interested in propaganda and unnecessary showboating with false performance claims.
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The party also recalled that the Buhari administration had done nothing to assist Nigerian citizens stranded in China despite their pleas, just the same way it abandoned our compatriots who were being murdered in the heat of xenophobic attacks in South Africa,” the statement read in part.
The PDP said Nigerians should directly hold the Buhari Presidency responsible should any national calamity arise from COVID-19 “in addition to the economic and security challenges its negligence has caused our nation”.
The party noted that due to the negligence and incompetence of the Buhari administration, Nigerians could no longer move freely across their country for fear of insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and now corona virus.
“Indeed, the Buhari government is a huge misfortune to our nation. This latest leadership failure further validates widespread calls for it to step aside for more competent hands to manage the affairs of our country.
“The PDP therefore calls on Nigerians not to despair but stir up the Nigerian resilient spirit for an urgent, multi sectoral concerted effort by agencies, groups, corporate entities and public-spirited individuals to immediately curb the disease before it spreads, particularly given the prevalent security, economic and humanitarian challenges in the country.
“The party called on the Federal Government to end its cosmetic attitude and immediately adopt the proactive strategy used by the PDP administration to promptly contain the Ebola Virus disease in 2014.
“The PDP also advised Nigerians to be very vigilant and follow intervention directives to ensure that the disease does not spread in the country.
“The party urged the ministry of health to continue to be open and not allow propaganda, speculations and misinformation in the handling of this health emergency,” the statement further read.