Governor Ifeanyi Okowa
ABUJA/Nigeria: The Federal Government of Nigeria had appealed to Nigerians to embrace the lockdown order imposed in some parts of the country to slow down the spread of novel Coronavirus pandemic, as it stated that each state has the authourity over its territory to fight the deadly pandemic.
The appeal was made by Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who is the Chairman, Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, made the appeal while answering questions on Wednesday in Abuja against the backdrop of some women who protested the lockdown in Delta state.
He stated that the action to lockdown by some of the state governments was is the best and not the best of time to encourage resistance to the lockdown, adding that the move was to forestall further spread of the virus.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some women from Delta state had protested the state government announcement of the extension of the lockdown.
The SGF who said that though the decision that precipitated the lockdown by the Federal Government only affected Lagos, FCT and Ogun states, noted that some states also took it upon themselves to do the needful by locking down their states.
“Delta state has power over its territory and the Governor saw the need to impose a lockdown to curb the virus,” he said
”I urge Nigerians to see the benefits in the lockdown and I believe this appeal should be received with the best of intention.
“And as the president earlier said, we should not allow the recklessness of few to cause the death of all,” he said.
Meanwhile there was tension in Sapele on Wednesday, following the resistant protest by women and youths in Sapele town, in Delta state that resulted in the shooting of a 15 years old boy.
The protest which was organised to force the government of Delta State to resent the extension order for another 14 days without palliative, resulted to violent when some youths among the protesting women started petting the security agents that came with the local government Chairman to address the protesters. However, according to our reporter, immediately the chairman left the venue, the clash between the two groups started.
The women who numbered about 2000, saw the order of the Governor inhuman, and decided to mobilise against the authourity as early as , 7 a.m demanding an end to the lockdown, saying that the actions of the state government since the COVID-19 pandemic started lacks a human face, as they chanted different forms of songs.
According to a sister Online newspaper, Advocate, One of the women leader, Madam Tina Akpometiro the prefer to come outside and die than to be locked inside.
“We prefer to come outside and die than to be locked indoor, we have stayed inside for two weeks we can’t go to the market, we can’t go anywhere, we are hungry, we will not accept this.
“We are hungry and we don’t want food, let us go out and fend for ourselves. We want to go back to our normal lives; we are tired of sitting at home.”
Credit: The Guardian, and Advocate.ng
