Razaq Bamidele
A pan Yoruba socio-cultural and Political organisation, Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Group (COSEG), has urged residents of the Yoruba speaking states to adhere strictly to Government directives on COVID-19 prevention to put an end to its potential spread.
In a statement at the weekend signed by its Convener, Razaq Olokoba and the Political Secretary Wale Balogun, the Coalition said the South West remains a high risk zone given its population density and the bolstering industrial activities in the region.
The group said the South-West remains the preferred destination of people from Asia and Europe thereby raising the risk factors of CORONAVIRUS infection, reminding that, since the Murital Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos appears to be only one operating, “this will also increase influx of the people into the region.”
Against this background, the Coalition said it has launched a massive public enlightenment campaign using the social and electronic media to ensure full compliance with the World Health Organisation (WHO), rules in COVID-19 prevention echoed by the South-West State Governments
The group therefore said it uses this medium to commend state governments in the South-West Nigeria for their efforts so far in trying to control and contain the Coronavirus outbreak.
It said the government of Lagos State under the leadership of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu deserves particular mention for its proactive public health emergency measures and attempts to domesticate the global measures against the virus as exemplified in the workable pronouncement on avoidance of crowding and ensuring social distancing.
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“We therefore call on the people in Yoruba land irrespective of nationality, religion, ideology or creed to own and adhere strictly to the measures announced by governments at all levels in their own interest and in the larger interest of their community.
“The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) document on self-isolation is a commendable one that we all must study, keep handy and make use of as the need arises. We at the COSEG make bold to say that Nigeria has not been proactive enough nationally and little is being done at the level of domestication of the global measures, predictive statistics and release of information to the public. We urge the federal government to improve on it,” the group advised.
While observing the fears that a lot more needs to be done by the Federal Government in addressing the peculiar challenges of COVID-19 in our clime, COSEG wants the government to bear in mind:
a. The kind of infrastructural facilities that would enable coordinated and programmed response and compliance in China and advanced countries are not in place yet.
b. The depressed economic status of many Nigerians, unemployment and poor hygiene among the Nigerians and
c. The lack of faith in government inherited from the previous government and heightened sense of insecurity among the people.
“At this time, it is imperative that the President, General Muhammadu Buhari address Nigerians on the COVID-19 outbreak, giving the kind of hope every country’s leadership has given its people in this situation. Just as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assumed the role of Chief Incident Commander in Lagos State, we expect that President Muhammadu Buhari should assume the role of Chief Incident Commander for Nigeria on the COVID-19 outbreak. This call is borne out of the need to embolden and strengthen our resolve as a people to defeat CONVID-19.
“At no other time since the end of the Second World War in 1945 has there been such threat to humanity and such collective attention and response elicited on a global scale as we have in this COVID-19 pandemic. Nigerians are a critical part of that endangered humanity both in terms of population and in terms of leadership role in Africa. But this is not being reflected in the level of governmental response or even grasp of the situation, the slow and unnecessary gradualism in implementing the decision of the Government is not helpful. We say all of this bearing in mind that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already pronounced that this outbreak is going to be worse in Africa than any other continent.
“And we do not want to be part of the long queue of unpatriotic Nigerians who want to use this as an opportunity to bash President Buhari. This is not the period for such distraction; we are faced by a global threat that is universal in nature. So all hands must be on deck because stitch in time, they say, saves nine,” COSEG admonished.
Concluding, the coalition urged the Federal government to instruct all the 774 local governments in the country to compliment the efforts of the Federal and State governments in their enlightenment programme, enforcement of the restriction and provision of relief materials to top their list of intervention.
