The People’s Democratic Party has drawn the ire of Nigerians on Twitter with its press release calling out President Muhammadu Buhari on the APC led federal government’s efforts aimed at curtailing the spread of the novel virus in the country. The party which is the major opposition party in Nigeria had earlier in the day released a press statement condemning the Buhari-led administration on its failure to addrees the nation on COVID 19. The party said “ The PDP is worried at President Buhari’s delay in standing up to the responsibilities of his office to address heightening national anxieties since the detection of the deadly COVID-19 in our country”. The statement further read “the party describes as absolute leadership failure that Mr. President has not considered it imperative to show concern by directly addressing a panic-stricken nation even in the face of escalated national trepidations and conflicting reports”. The party noted that the president is expected to lead the charge as the nation runs the race against the novel virus.
In their reactions, Nigerians on Twitter berated the party for playing politics with the deadly virus especially at this crucial time. In the first salvo shot at the party, a twitter user, Anthony Ebereonwu @AEbereonwu asked “what is @mbuhari is addressing the nation on or for. The world and the WHO had acclaimed Nigeria’s preparedness to tackle this scourge head on. Why would a non strategic opposition party b in panic mode when the govt of d day has done its job. Abeg opposition no dey easy”. In another reaction, Geo Uguru @Geouguru while displaying a NCDC flyer, lashed out “If you had any discernment left in your party, this is the information you should be bringing to your members for their enlightenment about the coronavirus issue in the country”.
Another angry Nigerian, Usen Jumbo @jumbo, called out the party describing as useless. He wrote “ I didn’t know this party called PDP was this useless until this moment. No wonder they plunged the country into the mess currently salvaging by Buhari. I understand Buhari don’t address on process but he address on result/reports, so wait for that. Very stupid!!! In his own reaction, Oluwole Olofintuyi @OluOlofin1 describes President Buhari as a man of little talk but much action. He said “ What majority of Nigerians want is action not talk talk. Someone working has little time for talking, his aides do the talking while he concentrates. Go away with your distractions, the whole world is praising Nigeria for being proactive in dealing with the virus.”
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It would be recalled that Nigeria recorded her first case of the Corona Virus last Friday from an Italian who is a consultant to Lafarge Cement Company in Ewekoro, Ogun State, Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Health using the National Centre for Disease Control rose to the occasion by quarantining both the index case and about 39 other people who had had contact with him. As at today, no single Nigerian has been found infected by the virus as those quarantined have been under monitoring with no sign of the symptoms of the virus.