Being COVID-19 positive not a death sentence – Presidency
The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed concern about the alleged collapse of governance command structure of the federal government occasioned by the quarantine of the chief of staff to the president, Mr. Abba Kyari, who had tested positive for the deadly COVID-19.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had had relinquished control and supervision of ministers and other sensitive government officials to Kyari.
In a release by the party’s nation publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said it was disturbed by heightening public anxiety over who controls governance machinery as the president had remained silent since Kyari’s absence.
“The PDP is worried that Nigerians are now at a loss regarding who the cabinet ministers and other officials of the federal government currently report to, a development that has sparked apprehensions of a collapse of governance command structure at the federal executive.
“Already, there is heightened public apprehensions that the development could have been the reason behind the cancellation of Tuesday and Wednesday’s scheduled Federal Government’s briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic thereby denying Nigerians much needed update on issues relating to the coronavirus disease.
“Nigerians are distressed that Buhari has remained silent on the spread of COVID-19 and has failed to address the nation since some Presidency officials, as well as some state governors and other high profile officials and individuals reportedly tested positive to the virus,” said Ologbondiyan.
The PDP called on the president to immediately come out clean on who is in charge of the governance structure since the isolation of Kyari.
“Our party wants President Buhari to note that, what Nigerians expect of him at this point in our history is to end his silence, be visible and take up the challenge of personally leading in governance, particularly in this fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, like other leaders across the globe,” it added.
The party also challenged the president Buhari to wake up and engage other world leaders, international bodies and global health sector stakeholders for solution.
Besides, it called on the corporate bodies, the organised business community, international organisations, research and medical institutions and public-spirited individuals to immediately rally with other members of the international community for solutions to check the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Apparently reacting to the statement, the presidency said testing positive for the coronavirus disease is not a death sentence.
The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina stated this when he was asked to confirm the report that Buhari tested negative for COVID-19,
“Good. So, that calls for rejoicing with him. Anybody that does the test and tests negative, we will rejoice with that person, and anybody that does it and tests positive, it’s not a death sentence. They will be attended to. They will be tested, and they will be fine.
“We also would pray along with the person. Give the person our goodwill and best wishes and they will surely come out of it. Even the index case in Nigeria recovered and has been discharged,” he said.
However, Adesina admitted that the Presidential Villa, like the entire country, “is under a partial lockdown but not completely shut.”
He said the seat of power was not shut down but its activities were on a low key.
“Well, things are a bit on a low key. It doesn’t mean that the State House is shut down. It’s just that things are a bit on the low key just like the rest of the country.
“The rest of the country is also on a low key. There is a partial lockdown in most parts of the country. So, what is happening at the State House can also be called a partial lockdown but not a complete lockdown,” Adesina said.
On the suspension of the weekly federal executive council meeting which did not hold yesterday, Adesina explained that the meeting was suspended because over 50 people attend the forum every week and the number exceeds the specification for convergence in the present circumstance when social distancing is the watchword.
However, he said the suspension notwithstanding, consultations were ongoing with relevant government officials and executive decisions taken whenever necessary.
“The council was suspended because of the size. You have over 50 people seated in the council chambers whenever the meeting holds and that is not advisable at a time like this.
“But if there would be a very important decision to be taken, you can always summon the relevant people – three, four or five and hold a small meeting and arrive at a decision.
“It does not mean that one man is going to be taking all the decisions. Of course, yes, there are executive decisions but the ones that must pass through consultations, which must have a buy in of the federal executive council can always be discussed at a smaller meeting,” he said.
On the pruning down of the number of state house correspondents, Adesina said the number was large and “contravenes the current rule prohibiting more than 50 people from congregating at a place.”
He denied reports alleging that the journalists were banned saying the restriction on their entry to the State House was only a precautionary measure against further spread of the disease.
“Ban is a wrong word. Anybody that uses that word, ban, is just operating from a mindset, and you know that Nigerians love conspiracy theories but this one is no conspiracy at all. There is no ban.
“What happens is that in the press gallery, you have about 108 journalists in that single hall and it goes contrary to the spirit of the times. The times dictate that you don’t have too many people congregating in one place.
“Imagine 108 journalists; if one of them happens to catch the virus, he spreads it among all the journalists.
“So, we said for now, let them stay away, not much is happening for now. But we picked a certain number, representatives of the media.
“They will come in, if there is anything, they will cover and those outside will also not miss because there would be a system in which they can share reports.
“So, ‘ban’ will be a wrong word. It will be operating from a mindset of conspiracy and there is no conspiracy here at all,” added.
