The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has given the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government a 48-hour ultimatum, to declare the whereabouts of the Chinese Medical team which it brought into the country, to assist in the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PDP’s position was predicated on the declaration by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, that he could not account for the whereabouts of the Chinese Medical team, who were brought into the country from the global epicentre of the pandemic.
The 15-member team of Chinese Medical personnel arrived in the country on April 8, “to share their experiences in fighting the Covid-19”.
Some Nigerians had kicked against the Federal Government’s decision to invite the Medical experts, saying that the country has enough Doctors to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP stated that the Minister’s statement has heightened apprehensions in the public space, that the Chinese team, whose identity and activities have been shrouded in secrecy, may have been brought in by a certain cabal, for another purpose outside the general public’s good.
The party described as suspicious, creepy, and weird, that the Minister of Health, who had repeatedly assured that the Chinese were brought to render Medical services and training, and even went personally to receive them at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on April 8, 2020, in an elaborately publicised event, can no longer account for the team.
“The PDP recalls how Officials of the APC-led administration, had vehemently defended the invitation of the Chinese team, and offered them full state protocol upon arrival, only to now turn around to disclaim the supposed Experts, deny involvement with them, and even forbid Nigerians from enquiring about their whereabouts.
“Our party is worried that the APC-led Federal Government is being economical with the truth, with its Officials playing politics with the lives of our citizens and health safety of our nation.
“The PDP holds that government’s inability to account for the Chinese team, amounts to direct betrayal of public trust, which has heightened fears of conspiracies by certain unpatriotic interests in the APC and its administration, to compromise the health architecture of our nation, and expose our citizens to danger.
“Nigerians can recall how the Federal Government had failed to respond to demands by our party and other well-meaning Nigerians, for the particulars of the members of the team, their medical status, scope of operation, detailed itinerary within our country, as well as the safety of the equipment they brought into our nation.
“We invite Nigerians to note that whereas our nation’s Covid-19 data, upon the arrival of the Chinese team in April, stood at 254 confirmed cases, with 44 successfully treated by our Doctors, and 6 deaths, which reportedly had other underlining ailments.
“Today, the data stands at no less than 5,450 cases, and 171 deaths.
“Our party therefore, insists that the PTF on Covid-19 should immediately come out with the truth, and provide explanations on the whereabouts of the team in the next 48-hours, so as to douse the tension in the country.”
The PDP, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, while intensifying personal and public health safety strategies at this critical time.