The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has described the position of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the lockdown of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun as a reflection of the reckless manner the opposition party handled state affairs between 1999 and 2015.
It wondered how any responsible group would argue against President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to lock down the epicentre of the Coronavirus pandemic for two weeks on the grounds that ‘the move did not address areas of most concern….’
In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO noted that only an unfeeling set of individuals would claim that Nigerians have already ‘imposed social distancing and isolation on themselves’, at a time the number of infected persons is on the rise.
“It really shouldn’t be a surprise that PDP again chose to put its mischievous character up for display by saying the speech did not address salient demands of the pandemic.
“But our question for this rabble-rousing is; what could be more important than locking down the epicentre of a pandemic to stop it from getting to the level of a national emergency?
“Even a fellow rabid opposition group led by a notorious PDP ally, for once, saw the wisdom in Buhari taking sure and steady steps to stop the virus from spreading further.
“We insist that the decision to restrict interstate and intercity movements in Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is the best way, as the President explained, ‘to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases’ and consequently flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
“Nigerians would have seen how failure to lockdown New York, the epicentre of the US case worsened that country’s situation to the extent that a fierce debate is now on, belatedly, on whether to quarantine the entire State.
“But President Buhari’s move is similar to what is in place in India and Italy even if ours is not a nationwide or regional lockdown”, it added.
The group also commended the President for leaving the seaports open, as well as exempting petroleum distributors, retailers, private security outfits and people on essential services.
“In addition to these are the palliatives for vulnerable people, especially those who have had a course to benefit from the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
“We commend the President for the three-month repayment moratorium he approved for all beneficiaries of TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni loans.
“The immediate payment of Conditional Cash Transfers for the next two months to the poorest of the poor as well as the distribution of food rations to displaced persons are also clearly in line with the President’s welfarist stance.
“We equally hail the decision to suspend loan repayments by small businesses.”
The group urged Nigerians to ignore PDP antics and cooperate with the Buhari administration in its efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
