COVID-19: Must We Play Politics With Everything?, By Luqman Abidoye

One of the major challenges faced by our dear country is how we play our politics. Every good or bad thing that happened in the country must be politicized.

In the midst of fear, panic, death caused by COVID-19 and every countries in the world is thinking of survival. It is sad to see the two greatest parties in the country playing politics at the expense of lives.

It is scary that many PDP supporters became joyous when Abba Kyari and some other APC Governors tested positive of the virus and wished they never recovered and the same happens with many APC supporters when Muhammed Atiku and Seyi Makinde tested positive. They are blinded by their political differences and failed to realised that these people also have families and friends whom their existence means a lot to.

Moreso, the distribution of the little palliatives from the government is also sadly politicized. The majority of these were handed over to the party leaders of each ward/community, who in turn share the remaining to their relatives and loyalists after keeping a large amount for himself without considering the most vulnerable (the people who can’t even afford a cup of garri).

Recommendations:
1. We should always pray for swift recovery of the affected individuals in the country regardless of wealth, status, position, tribe and language.

2. The government should contract the distribution of palliatives to professionals who can handle it better (e.g Events Planners, Logistics Firms etc) and squarely face the containment of the virus.

3. Every citizens must be ready to support the government in this war against COVID-19.

4. Politics should be put aside totally at a time like this and we should all think of how to survive.

I will like to end with this quote from Winston Churchill “Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.