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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the disturbing mass death in Kano, urging a presidential visit to the state, where no fewer than 640 citizens reportedly died under mysterious circumstances in the last one week.
It said the call followed the conflicting reports emanating from the North West state on the real cause of the incidents particularly at this time that the nation is battling with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP noted: “With dismay that the Buhari presidency had failed to take any concrete step on this frightening development, but is, as usual, waiting to be prodded to stand up to the demand of the office and proceed to Kano State to identify with the people, find a solution and contain the ugly situation.”
The main opposition party described as lamentable the fact “that President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised to lead from the front, and who recently took up the toga of ECOWAS COVID-19 Response Champion, had rather receded into the safety of Aso Villa and failed to promptly activate any concrete and visible action to investigate and arrest the situation in Kano, where Nigerians are dying in their hundreds.”
According to the PDP, “the situation is yet another manifestation of leadership failure and insensitivity of the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to the plight of Nigerians at critical moments.”
The political grouping stressed that the situation in Kano demanded an immediate presidential visit and investigation at a very high level.
“Those dying in Kano are Nigerians, and must not be abandoned. The development deserves utmost presidential attention to avoid further escalation,” it added.
The party went on: “This is particularly imperative as it is evident that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his APC-led administration in Kano State are totally incompetent and have become overwhelmed after failing to take appropriate measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus or whatever medical situation that has taken over the state.
“When Ganduje, who is being dogged by allegations of corruption, was expected to ensure compliance with preventive measures, he rather chose to abandon governance and spent executive time pursuing controversial extraneous issues that have no direct benefit on the lives of the people.”
PDP further said: “It is even more ludicrous than Governor Ganduje chose to politicise the health issues in his state by resorting to unnecessary denials and pecuniary concerns.
“Such an anti-people approach to governance is always symptomatic of leadership that did not emanate from the mandate of the people.”
It implored the governor “to explain why he failed to contain his daughter, Dr. Amina Umar Ganduje, whose reported overbearing attitude in the Kano State COVID-19 Task Force allegedly contributed to the crippling of the activities of those charged with taking preventive measures.”