The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday, April 11; applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for extending the lockdown order currently in place in Lagos, Abuja and other states in the country.
Buhari had mandated an extension of the lockdown in a statement issued on Saturday and signed his media aide, Garba Shehu.
The president further implored Nigerians to adhere to the lockdown; adding that palliatives have since been released to cushion the effect of the stay-at-home order.
In a rare expression of support, the PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan praised the decision of the Federal Government.
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Ologbondiyan, however, called on the Federal Government to be transparent with the palliatives to the vulnerable in order to help Nigerians not feel the effect of the lockdown.
He said, “The PDP has never been opposed to a lockdown. Our candid position is that the government should provide palliatives; because the majority of Nigerians are in the informal sector.
“They are the tomato sellers, the Uber drivers, motorcycle and tricycle riders, vulcanisers and the mechanics. They run our economy.
“And as such, we ask the Federal Government to provide a means of sustaining this group of Nigerians who run our economy for the period; during which they have been forced to stay at home and have been denied their means of survival.
“But what did you get? You find a situation where a loaf of bread is being given to a household of 10 people and a cup of rice is being given to breadwinners to go and feed their families.
“Nigerians are becoming scared. They are worried and they are afraid that it appears that they are being driven away or shielded from coronavirus; only to be killed by ‘hunger-virus.’ That is the issue.
“Our position is that the Federal Government must have a holistic approach to fighting coronavirus. If you ask the people to stay at home, then you must provide palliatives. They must provide incentives that will keep them at home.
“We are not opposed to an extension of the lockdown if, in the wisdom of the Federal Government; it will help in reducing the coronavirus.”
