When Disrespect Becomes The Staple Of Political Statements, By Dele Alake
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar continues to foul up the political arena, with statement after statement dripping with insult and disrespect to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
A statement credited to the former vice president on the latest public health issue opened with a title linking the President’s first name to Ebola and questioning how the Presidential Task Force spent the N10 billion approved for the emergency.
We believe linking and rhyming President Bola Tinubu’s name to Ebola only risks turning a serious health concern into a vehicle to ridicule the President of the Federal Republic.
The statement showed patent ignorance about the virus and why the traveller from Uganda was not detected on arrival at the Abuja airport.
For anyone infected with the virus, the incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days, with symptoms typically appearing 8 to 10 days after exposure. An infected person cannot spread or transmit Ebola to others until they actively develop symptoms.
This is why it took the infected Nigerian some days before reporting to the hospital, where several tests showed that the person had Ebola.
On accountability, the Atiku camp should note that the N10 billion the President approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched, while the NCDC, FAAN, and other surveillance agencies have spent other available resources.
The agencies deserve applause for mounting a robust surveillance at entry points to avert Ebola spread whenever it lands on our shores.
This surveillance network tipped off the government about the index case and led to contact tracing of the patient’s 44 contacts.
A responsible opposition will applaud the Task Force for being responsive. But the Atiku camp always goes for cheap shots at the government.
In this vein, we consider his allegation that a ministerial briefing is intended to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or voting speculative. Vice President Atiku cannot make such a serious allegation without verifiable evidence, especially in the thick of electioneering. In any way, the press conference did not raise this issue, except to appeal to the public to comply with the Task Force’s announced protocol.
We advise Atiku Abubakar and his hirelings to avoid politicising public health issues. A time like this demands that all Nigerians, including the opposition, rally around the health authorities and professionals, communicate responsibly, avoid rumour-mongering, and follow the protocols advised by the Task Force to ensure Ebola does not become a national epidemic.
Nigerians deserve, first of all, protection from the deadly disease.
