Coronavirus: Buhari should address the nation now, says OPCI President

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

With the worsening situation of the rampaging coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria in which not less than 22 index cases have been confirmed, President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to listen to the voices of reason from the Senate and other well meaning people and address the Nation without further delay.

National President of Oodua Progressives Care Initiative (OPCI), Dr. Maruff Olarewaju, who made the call over the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, while addressing journalists, said: “When this pandemic virus started in China some weeks ago, we thought it was China’s problem and it would soon be contained, but unfortunately reverse was the case.

“In developed countries like USA, UK, Germany, Canada, China, and even in Iran and Saudi Arabia, they all see the virus as an emergency situation and leaders of these countries had taken it upon themselves to promptly address their citizens to allay their fears and keep them abreast of efforts being made by their administrations to nip the deadly virus in the bud and prevent its spread in their respective countries. But we are at a loss over President Buhari’s complacency on a highly sensitive issue like this.

“President Muhammadu Buhari should understand that he is the one we voted for, and not the Minister of Health or anybody else. Mr President should know that whatever he does today will surely be history tomorrow.

“When Ebola virus came to Nigeria during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, he was very proactive and didn’t waste time in addressing the Nation. To his credit, the Ebola virus was contained within a record time.

“As a matter of fact, Nigerians need Mr. President’s assurance on the virus through his broadcast and not press statements from his media aides or Ministers. Mr. President should see it as his responsibility to defend the citizens of this country come what may and under any circumstance. Mr. President should not feel too big to come out from his cocoon to address the people who voted him into power. To do otherwise only smacks of disrespect to the 200 million Nigerians who ate looking up to him for guidance.

“Nigerians want to know from the President the steps so far taken by the government and the plans on the table to tackle the virus, plus amount of money earmarked for the containment of the virus.

“The USA government has said that over one trillion dollars will be disbursed to their citizens at the rate of one thousand dollars each, the UK also did the same. President Muhammadu Buhari should tell us his government’s plan on this, not just the closing of schools, mosques, churches, borders and airports, this is not enough. The citizens should be considered as paramount.”