The Governorship Candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the 2019 general elections in Oyo State, Chief Sharafadeen Alli on Thursday, cautioned the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde against opening of Schools and religious centres in the face of the rampaging Coronavirus in the state.
Alli also prayed for the quick recovery of former Governor of the State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who is currently receiving treatment over an undisclosed ailment saying,“the former governor should be remembered in our prayers”
In a statement Alli personally signed and made available to newsmen in Ibadan today, Alli said, “we must collectively stay safe and observe all regulations prescribed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders during this ongoing global pandemic,”
He also cautioned Governor Makinde to tarry and seek professional advise before considering reopening of Schools, religious organisations and government offices. Alli said, “opening schools, government offices, churches and mosques at this critical time is dangerous and an open invitation to risking lives of the good people of the state when the number of coronavirus victims is increasing on the daily basis.”
He wondered what necessitated the impatience on school reopening especially when examination coordinating bodies (WAEC and NECO) are not in a hurry to commence the exercise.
Alli, stressed that “Nigerians were taken aback and marveled when the Oyo State Government announced its readiness to reopen schools and religious organisations in a few days time, when other states are still putting heads together on how to find lasting solutions to the ravaging pandemic”.
According to the former Secretary to the Oyo State Sovernment, “this decision is untimely and insensitive at the time the whole world is battling to find a lasting solution to the issue of COVID-19″.
The statement reads in part:”It is good to consider reopening of schools, but not at this time that the number of coronavirus victims in Oyo State is increasing. Moreso, when it is obvious precautionary steps have not been put in place to forestall further community infection in the schools and public places. I will advise you to tarry and seek professional advise before taking such a step.”
Alli also noted that peoples’ adherence and enforcement of the existing regulations is very poor.
“I want you to study developments in other states in Nigeria where the governors are not in hurry to take steps that may later backfire. Even South Korea and Israel had to close their schools again after resumption, when COVID-19 cases spiked in those countries. Lives of our people are very precious and we expect the governor to treat them as such,” Alli further counseled.
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