Jonathan Decries Attempts To Play Politics With Ebola Success

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday frowned at attempts by some individuals to make political capital out of Nigeria’s success in containing the Ebola Virus Disease, which was imported into the country by an American-Liberian, late Patrick Sawyer in July.

The president, who spoke during the launch of the Tony Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted that neither he nor any state governor should claim credit for the laudable efforts of ordinary Nigerians that ensured the disease was successfully contained.

According to Jonathan, credit should rather go to every Nigerian, religious and social groups that made the sacrifices in their attitudes and conduct, which went a long way in ensuring that Nigeria is now Ebola-free.

He also maintained that such unity of purpose and compassion by Nigerians was also brough to the fore when funds were raised for victims of 2011 flood disaster in the country.

Stressing that N11 billion was still left in the flood disaster fund, Jonathan announced a Federal Government donation of N250 million to the N1.5billion Elumelu Fund, which the promoters said, would be channeled towards reviving the economies of post-conflict communities like those in the Niger Delta and Jos, Plateau State.

A member of the Fund, and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, called for a common forum that will enable philanthropic Nigerians connect with each other in efforts to bring succour to devastated communities.

Jonathan sad: “I’m quite pleased with what is happening because I have realised over the period that government alone cannot solve human problems. Anything done by government once you involve the private sector and the civil society there is always a difference.

“The most recent one is our ability to manage the Ebola virus. People are trying to play politics with it which is quite unfortunate. But we had assistance from international donors and our development partners participated in terms of giving protective gear and various suggestions.

“The federal government did a lot of things in terms of logistics, moving people from one part of the country to the other, quarantining people within their residences and getting doctors or medical experts to follow up. We did not arrest anybody, moving people from Port Harcourt to Lagos for treatment and so on. A number of things were done”.