‘Don’t play politics with Ebola’

A group, Nigerians for Change, has called on the federal and state governments not to politicise the issue of the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), appealing that both should work in unison to confront the challenges facing the country.

Expressing delight that Nigeria is now a reference point for a positive development, the group said it was meaningless to engage in any rancour over the feat.

During a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Benin City, capital of Edo state on September 27, President Goodluck Jonathan had made reference to how Ebola was effectively tackled, assuring the public that Nigeria would soon overcome the Boko Haram menace.

“You all are aware that we conquered Ebola. And we shall surely conquer Boko Haram. Like Ebola, we will defeat Boko Haram,” he had said.

But Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos state, had reacted, describing it as a cheap publicity move.

Speaking in Lagos during the commemoration of the 54th Independence Day anniversary of the country, Fashola said the medical personnel of First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, Lagos, where the first case of the virus was recorded, deserved the credit for the success, which was attained in the battle against the virus.

“I have heard some stories emanating from campaign podiums with claims of conquering Ebola,” he said.
“The question we must ask is whether those who make these claims saw Ebola? It is women like Stella Adedevoh to whom such a claim rightly belongs. It is young Nigerians like Dr. Morris Ibeawuchi, who first made contact with the index case patient and continued to treat him who saw and conquered Ebola. Nobody should take this credit away from them.”

However, Kingsley Omose, co-coordinator of the group, said the success achieved in containing the virus is collective and should not be a source of distraction to politicians.

“We recognise the fact that in this political season, politicians are likely to be tempted to make political capital out of every issue, but the Ebola success story is too important to be trivialised,” Omose said.

“Nothing stops any Nigerian or group from also taking credit for successfully containing EVD. It is a collective victory. Indeed, our success in containing the EVD is the kind of change we have been yearning for. Nigerians For Change, as an organisation, is committed to positive change on the Nigerian landscape. We want to see our country move more towards the proactive approach in addressing issues similar to what was done by the government in containing EVD.”