Date: 2014-08-02

As the death toll of the dreaded viral Ebola disease soars dangerously in parts of West Africa sub-region, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter, has urged the Kwara State Government and relevant stakeholders in the health sector to take immediate proactive steps targeted at preventing the spread of the dreaded Ebola virus to the state.

Considering the fact that Kwara State shares its border with about five African countries which are considered to be susceptible to the pandemic, it will be suicidal for the state government to go to sleep over the virus.

However, it is disheartening to note that days after the first case of the viral disease was recorded in Lagos State, the Kwara State Government has done little or nothing to sensitize the public about the pandemic and precautionary measures to take against it.

Even as states like Anambra, Kogi, Kano, Lagos, Edo, etc have reportedly swung into action to protect their citizens against the virus, there is no evidence that the Kwara Government has deployed equal zeal for its own citizens. Instead, the governor and his commissioners have pre-occupied themselves with an illusionary second term bid.

It is in the light of the above that the Kwara PDP implores the Kwara State Governor, Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, to take a break from politics and give a moment thought for the lives of millions of Kwarans that may be at jeopardy should the virus finds its way into Kwara State (God forbid!).

The governor should accord the fight against the disease the same degree of attention he gives to his re-election bid. And the first genuine step towards this will be to suspend the government's political jamboree in the name of Town Hall Meeting, where the second term bid of the governor is being sold to the unsuspecting masses, and convert same to Ebola Public Enlightenment Platforms (EPEP) for the benefit of Kwarans.

Such vigorous public enlightenment on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is to enable the people take adequate precautionary measures against it.

As a party which cardinal policy is primarily premised on the wellbeing of the citizenry, the PDP believes that a sustained aggressive awareness on Ebola virus, especially regarding the risk factors and protection measures, is the most efficient way of checking its spread in the state.

We equally call for an effective equipment of hospitals and other health facilities with the requisite equipment to battle the virus in case of any eventuality.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State chapter of the PDP will next week commence the sensitization of its members and other members of the public over the deadly Ebola virus. The decision to embark upon this project was arrived today after the sad realization that after several days after the first case of the virus was confirmed in Nigeria, no proactive step has been done by the government to sensitize and mobilize the masses against it.

In the same vein, our party believes that to effectively stem the tide of Ebola, the political class needs to forge a common front irrespective of our political differences and to resist playing politics with the threat that could cost the country several lives.

Chief Rex K. Olawoye
Publicity Secretary, Kwara State PDP