By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday charged President Muhammadu Buhari to douse widespread public anxieties by immediately addressing the nation on the status of the Presidential villa, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement by the national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, which was sent to TheNiche on Tuesday, said the party’s demand was predicated on public apprehensions of health safety issues in the Villa following reports that President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, had tested positive to the deadly coronavirus disease.
“The PDP notes that though President Buhari was reported to have tested
negative to the virus, it is yet imperative that he douses public tension by addressing a distressed nation on the status of the Villa, especially given that other officials, like Abba Kyari, had travelled to high-risk countries in the course of their duties,” PDP said.
The party noted that an address on the situation in the Presidential
villa will further douse public concerns about the status of certain key
officials, who have not been visible in the last few days.
The party stressed that Nigerians, no matter how highly placed, should
strictly adhere to directives by relevant agencies of government on
health safety measures, particularly as they relate to isolation of
persons returning from foreign trips.
The PDP urged the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and other
relevant agencies to adopt stringent measures to isolate and monitor
persons coming into the country as well as track and equally isolate
those who had made contact with infected persons.
“In this regard, the NCDC should move into the Presidential villa and
immediately track and isolate all those who had made contact with
President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, so as to check further spread of
COVID-19 in our country.”
The party called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and observe all health
safety directives, including social distances, self-isolation, personal
hygiene and prompt report for medical assistance in the case of any
symptoms.
The PDP expressed optimism that with a concerted effort by all
Nigerians, the country will overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
