COVID 19: Ganduje Attacks Buhari As More Die In Kano

By Fola James

After the death of at least six professors and other top officials, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari –led federal government for abandoning the state in the time of need.

The president is very popular in the state and his political successes can also be linked to the ancient city.

Governor Ganduje’s frustration followed the denial by his government that corona virus was responsible for the deaths.

Some health experts including, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC the agency in the fore front of fighting the spread of the novel virus has not come to any conclusion.

But in his tirade against the federal government, the state governor said his state has not received any assistance.

Recall that the governor has recently shocked many after he accused the federal government of focusing more on Lagos state, which it said is rich enough to handle the pandemic and does not need external assistance.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Monday, the governor said the Presidential Task Force, PTF has not paid enough attention to the state.

He said the PTF under the leadership of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has not provided enough support for the state in terms on making available laboratory materials, personnel and others.

He stated that there is a shortage of sample collection equipment, and that the laboratory in the state is not functioning.

Ganduje who lamented the situation said “We are in a serious problem. I can tell you the situation is really bad and scary. Because what we solely rely upon in fighting the disease is the testing centre.

There is also a shortage of sample collection equipment. It is not common equipment that you can go and buy in the market.

Those whose samples were collected are still waiting to know their fate.

He said further that “There is a serious problem. We have been complaining that Kano needs more than one testing centre, right from the beginning of this.

Sincerely speaking, we are not getting deserved attention. If these equipment are under our control, we will do our best to make sure it works properly.

But we are not getting the needed support and co-operation from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.”

The magazine learnt that the state and NCDC have differed on how to tackle the increasing number of deaths in the state, even though the director general of the agency, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu met with Governor Ganduje last week over the matter.

According to sources, PTF officials are unhappy with the manner the state government has handled the pandemic.

They are mostly worried that the issue must have been politicized by the state government, thus limiting the intervention of the NCDC.

Meanwhile, the magazine leant that the decision by the NCDC to re-open the only COVID 19 testing centre in the state is as a result of the intervention of President Buhari.

The president has also been receiving pressure to visit the state in the light of the death toll that has continued to rise.

But Aso Rock sources told the magazine that the president will not visit the state at this time.