by Akan Ido

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have responded to calls made by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop trying to take credit for the containment of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.

The APC had released a statement yesterday saying the Ebola Virus spread was halted by the co-operation of all Nigerians and cannot be attributed to the efforts of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, however, released a statement in a Abuja today describing the APC as frustrated because Nigerians are happy with President Jonathan.

The Party said, “We know that the APC prefers that the Ebola scourge continued unabated in Nigeria so as to have what to blame the PDP-led government for. Now that it has been contained, the APC is frustrated because the people are happy with President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP-led Federal Government for the proactive manner with which the disease was confronted and overcame.”

The statement went on to outline the efforts made by the Federal Government in ensuring that the threatening epidemic was effectively contained.

He said, “The PDP makes bold to state that the multi-sectoral approach deployed by the Federal Government with the concerted collaboration of the Federal Ministries of Health, Aviation, Information, Education, Transport and other relevant agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service for intensive screening, quarantine and treatment efforts as well as the massive awareness which ended the spread of the disease and resulted in its containment in our country.

“We are also amused by the contradictions in the APC’s statement in which it also commended the roles played by the Honorable Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu in the containment effort.

“We ask, is the minister not appointed and supervised by President Goodluck Jonathan? Is he not of the PDP? Or is the APC now trying to appropriate him?

“Apart from concerted collaborations using the Federal Ministry of Health, it is on record that President Jonathan released N200 million each to Lagos and Rivers States to help in fighting the disease, including improvement of health facilities and public enlightenment across board,”

According to the ruling party, the president recognizes the efforts of all Nigerians in arresting the scourge with specific mention of the courageous action of late Dr. Ameyo Adedavoh who was one of the first doctors who had contact with an infected person.

“At every point, the President recognized the efforts of all Nigerians especially the medical personnel including the brave and courageous Dr. Ameyo Stella Adedavoh and all the doctors and nurses who made sacrifices in containing the virus. It is also on record that at no time did the PDP or the President relegate the contributions of the Lagos state government on Ebola,” the statement said.

Isime Esene