Covid-19: Buhari exhibiting uncommon leadership, Patriots’ Club hail President over proactive approaches

The Patriot’s Club of Nigeria (PCN) believes President Muhammadu Buhari’s visionary and exemplary leadership is already yielding positive results in the fight against coronavirus.

Although, the first sub-Saharan African nation to experience the covid-19 pandemic, Nigerian authorities have put in place some drastic measures to prevent alarming spread.

As at Sunday evening, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed just a little over a century cases albeit three discharged and one death.

There are now more than 4,600 confirmed cases across the continent, 1,250 in South Africa, 576 and 152 in Egypt and Ghana respectively.

Compared to other African nations, the Buhari-led administration is recording massive success, especially considering the country’s population of almost 200 million.

In a statement signed by president, TA Egbo, PCN hailed Mr Buhari for this silent feat.

The group believes the president’s address on Sunday was timely as it allayed the tension and fear of most Nigerians.

PCN commended the President’s drastic response, among them sending a team to Wuhan, China and restriction of movement in Abuja, Ogun and Lagos.

The group, however, urged Nigerians to play their parts as citizens and cooperate with the government to succeed.

Read full statement below:

President Muhammadu Buhari in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, addressed Nigerians on the Corona Virus pandemic, otherwise known as COVID 19

In the address which lasted for about 25 minutes, the President stressed the enormity the pandemic portends and harped on the need for sustained efforts to curb the spread of disease in Nigeria.

While assuring the citizenry of federal government’ resolve to do all within its means to check the spread of the virus until a cure is found, the President made a patriotic call on all Nigerians to unite and cooperate with the goverment to check the pandemic.

He said, “Every nation in the world is challenged at this time. But we have seen countries where citizens have come together to reduce the spread of the virus.”

What the President is saying here is that with a common purpose and cooperation from all quarters, we not only achieve what other nations have done in checking the virus, but that we can do more.

This is a patriotic call to duty that we must all support.

From one confirmed case of the virus in February, the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria has risen to 97 in just a month and two days.

This is definitely an emergency situation that requires the support of all to handle but one which can do without unnecessary panic and loss of control.

This is another area where we commend the President’s composure before, during and after making the broadcast.

You could see from the onset that he refused to be stampeded into making an address until the appropriate when measures have been out in place to check the spread of the virus.

This is because emergencies such as this is hardly the time for showmanship and playing ro the gallery but ones that require sober mien and the temperament to overcome.

President Buhari, while standing to emphasise the seriousness of the matter, did not give room for despair or confusion but was able to assure the citizenry of the steps being put in place to curb the spread of the virus.

Many Nigerians who were not very sure of what the Federal Government is doing with regards to curtailing the virus became confident when the President revealed that his government had started planning preventive, containment and curative measures in the event the disease hits Nigeria the moment its outbreak was announced in December 2019.

Further reassuring is the confirmation by the President that the whole instruments of government are now being mobilized to confront the pandemic.

The assurance could not have come at a better time given the rising number of deaths in many countries as a result of the spread of the disease.

We commend the President for sending a team to Wuhan, China, to monitor how the spread of the disease was contained and the support given to the NCDC to implement the numerous strategies and programs it learnt in China in Nigeria to ensure that the adverse impact of this virus is minimized.

We note with delight, the signal given by Mr. President for the adoption of strategies used globally, but more importantly to tailor such strategies to reflect local realities and the creation of the two-way strategy to protect the lives of Nigerians and residents living here and to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners..

The introduction of healthcare measures, border security, fiscal and monetary policies as well as the provision of N15 billion and the setting up of a Presidential Task Force (PTF) all in response to the pandemic is highly commendable.

The President was right to direct the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days .

This, we believe is the right step in the right direction as it help the government to trace and isolate those that have come in contact with confirmed cases.

The suspension of movements of all passenger aircraft, both commercial and private jets, is well thought out and will prevent the importation of further cases.

We call on Nigerians to make the necessary adjustments by staying at home, maintaining social distances and good hygiene to help check the spread of the disease.

No amount of sacrifice will be too big for us to make to.save humanity from calamity.

Mr. President has done his part by providing good leadership and has through the well written address restored our hope and confidence in our ability to overcome the current challenge, let us also do our parts as citizens and cooperate with the government to succeed.