Blaming FG for coronavirus spread insensitive – NATBO

Abuja – The body known as “No Alternative to Buhari, Osinbajo 2019″ (NATBO-2019) has frowned at those blaming the Federal Government for the spread of the coronavirus disease describing their action as insensitive.

The came as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed four new cases of novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) in the country with three in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), and one in Lagos State.

The new cases take the toll of confirmed cases in the country to a total 139.

Earlier on Tuesday, four cases had been confirmed in both Osun and Ogun States.

NCDC, through its verified Twitter account on Tuesday, said that out of the four cases, Osun recorded three while Ogun had one case.

“As at 08:00 pm March 31 there are 139 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Nine have been discharged with two deaths,”  it said.

NCDC said that currently, there were 82 cases in Lagos; Abuja 28, Oyo- eight; Osun- five; Ogun – four; Kaduna-three; Enugu, Edo and Bauchi with two cases each, while Ekiti, Rivers and Benue have one case each.

Federal Government earlier said that it would convert 300 GeneXpert facilities to test centres for the COVID-19.

The government said the recent inclusion of University College Hospital, Ibadan,  into the network laboratories for COVID-19, would enable increased testing capacity and improved turn-around time.

There is also an ongoing assessment to include seven other laboratories in the next three weeks

The laboratories would  assist other response activities, thereby reducing the numbers of deaths. 

They would also provide diagnostic support for a number of states of the federation.

The Support Group in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, signed by its National Coordinator Vincent Uba, particularly berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its ‘unfortunate’ stance on the matter.

With particular reference to the views expressed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, Uba stressed that it was insensitive of him to have called on Nigerians to blame Buhari’s government for the spread.

“At a time the world is being ravaged by the corona virus pandemic, countries adopting measures to curb the scourge and global citizens in sober mood, it is surprising and unfortunate that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had to resort to negative blame games.

“This is a case of deceitfully calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it” and then to curry unmerited attention.

“How could a person or group of persons in this critical time in global history, politicise a worldwide pandemic, when in virtually all the countries of the world, the citizens, religious, business and political organisations unite to rally round their governments.

“Let it be said and known that it is a patriotic duty and civic responsibility for anyone (individual or group) to offer suggestions and advice to the government on how best to tackle the pandemic,” he said.

He said that the government and its agencies as well as the private sector were currently doing all they could to contain the spread of the virus.

Uba wondered what use it was for the president to regularly address the nation on the Covid-19 pandemic when the committees both at federal and state levels were giving updates regularly.

“How ironic it is for the PDP to now accuse the present administration of not putting necessary equipment in hospitals and relevant health institutions when the same PDP could not equip the health institutions during the 16 years it was in power,” he said.

Uba, however, called on all to put in efforts to ensure that Nigeria maintained the low record of the spread until it completely rid the nation of new cases.

He commended the individuals, corporate bodies and religious groups which had made contributions and commitments towards the management of the health crisis.

He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the relevant authorities and adhere strictly to the preventive health measures and tips.