Press Statement:
Covid -19: Fifth columnists bent on undermining KWSG’s efforts — KYC
We have carefully followed efforts of Kwara State Government on its preparation since the first case of Coronavirus was reported in Nigeria. The Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has displayed sufficient capacity to prevent its spread here, and/or its containment in the event it is recorded.
It happened that on 6th April, the report of a sample sent from Kwara to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) turned out to be positive. This development further spurred the government to roll up her sleeves.
Governor AbdulRazaq on the morning of the following day, promptly addressed a news briefing with reputable media houses in attendance. The Governor, during the briefing allayed every fear that might be associated with the incident and took further precautionary measures at preventing community spread. This is, coming after other bolder measures taken in the previous weeks.
However, as an advisory body to this government we are dismayed that saboteurs are bent on latching on this global pandemic to undermine the government. There is no State in Nigeria where this ugly trend is observed but Kwara State.
We observed that, medical and public health practitioners have approved standard of practice— including confidentiality. Information have been twisted in the past few days either to malign the government or bring some persons to disrepute, sadly, including victims of Covid – 19 pandemic.
We are alarmed and therefore calling on all well meaning Kwarans home and abroad to rein in these purveyors of twisted-information, which we presume are doing so, to satisfy certain political beliefs.
Every where in Nigeria today, everyone is working together to defeat the pandemic. Those with 2023 ambitions should wait and allow this phase to pass, then they can continue with their political adventures.
We commend the Federal Government of Nigeria for its sustained working relationship with the Government of Kwara State as evident in the launch of Conditional Cash Transfer on Monday in Ilorin, which will benefit 25,000 households in the State.
It is noteworthy that, the Federal Government has always been supportive of the AbdulRazaq’s administration by allowing government officials to visit the State on routine basis for various interventions. The unfortunate incursion of Covid – 19 can’t break the synergy— this time, it is to defeat the virus itself.
We call on the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to deal decisively with any worker found wanting either directly or indirectly involved at any level of containing the spread of Covid – 19 in the State. We are sure this government has put in place all that is required to stamp out the pandemic in Kwara State.
We empathize with those infected and wish them a very speedy recovery. We equally commend patriotic citizens of the State that have offered various forms of support to the government through the Technical Committee. We appreciate the effort of the Technical Committee since its inauguration and hope it won’t be discouraged but improve on its assignment.
Kayode Oyin-Zubair
Convener,
Kwara Youth Centre,
Ilorin
Thursday, 9th April 2020