The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State notes with sadness, the unhealthy manner in which PDP State Working/Executive Committee carried out the swearing-in of Ward and LGA Chairmen of their Party. In fact, Deltans who were around the vicinity of the swearing-in were shocked at the level of display of disobedience to the extant order of the Government by PDP, Delta State.
The pictorial evidence on social media on today’s activities of PDP leaves soured taste in the mouth of Deltans. Carelessness and lawlessness was on the display in total defiance to the day to day admonitions of health care providers and warnings from WHO, NCDC, the State and Federal Governments.
Members of PDP State Executive magisterialy conducted themselves in a manner unbecoming of leaders of an organization and/ or political Party!
Amongst the infractions committed by those who participated in the swearing-in are but not limited to the following:
1) Lack of observance of social distancing, particularly during group photographs.
2) Exchange of pleasantries by shaking of hands, particularly during the presentation of certificates.
3) Close sitting arrangement by members of the State Working/Executive Committee.
4) Presence of more than fifty persons at the swearing-in ceremony in total negation of the State Government’s directive that there should be no gathering of more than fifty persons in any ceremony within Delta State.
Information available to us says that apart from the members of PDP State, Wards/LGA Executives, well wishers of those sworn in thronged the venue of the swearing-in.
It is unfortunate that while the common man/ Deltans are being asked to show high level of hygiene by the Government of the day, some people who feel that they are above the law made nonsense of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The actions/inactions of those involved in the swearing-in is highly condemnable.
Our concern is that COVID-19, and other infectious diseases were imported into our country by the rich (the elite), but the irony of it is that, it is the poor (common man) who suffers the loss of lives and die in their millions, having been infected by the rich (the elite). We call on the elites to show some sense of responsibility and respect for human life.
It is a known fact that Covid-19 cannot be noticed at the early stage of development. In other words, carriers of Covid-19 at an early stage of the virus does not show any symptoms. Some people are asymptomatic. That is, they hardly show symptoms of the virus and other related infectious diseases, thereby going ahead to infect the vulnerable masses.
Also, it is a fact that Covid-19 could be housed by anyone irrespective of social or political status.
The poor masses should however learn to love their lives by developing measures to resist being victims of circumstances of the rich class making them victims and candidates for death.
At present, there is tension in Delta State and by extension in Nigeria because of the increase in the numbers of confirmed Covid-19 infected persons. And the increase has been partly attributed to the careless disregard of the advise of our health experts as was displayed by the PDP during the swearing-in that took place today, the 5th of May, 2020, in Asaba.
Delta APC calls on the State Government, the NCDC and other relevant Authorities to as a matter of urgency, keep close watch on all those who participated in the event of today. In fact, they should be made to go on self isolation for at least fourteen days in order to avoid any untoward consequences.
While we expect the Government of Delta State, the NCDC and other relevant Authorities to do the needful, we call on Deltans to continue to maintain high level of hygiene as that is the only way the war against the Covid-19 pandemic can be won.
Sylvester Imonina, Esq.
Publicity Secretary, APC Delta State.
5th of May, 2020.
