The All Progressives Congress and the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, on Thursday, said the rallies being held for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid was violating measures put in place to avert the spread of the Ebola virus disease.

Also, prominent legal practitioner, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), in a separate interview with our correspondent, described the continuation of the rallies as misplaced priority.

The APC, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Ilorin on Thursday called on the President Jonathan to direct the campaigners to stop the rallies.

The party said the rallies were capable of jeopardising the nation’s efforts to address the spread of the Ebola disease.

It stated, “Mr. President, you said your ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian. But the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria’s rallies for your re-election are endangering the lives of thousands of Nigerians in these days of Ebola.

“Some things must simply transcend politics. This is one of them. Please stop the rallies now.”

It said the President must in particular ensure that the rally slated for Port Harcourt on Saturday was stopped.

This, according to the party, was necessary in view of the spread of the Ebola virus to Port Harcourt and the fact that 100 people had been placed under surveillance there following the death of a medical doctor as a result of suspected Ebola disease.

“If TAN goes ahead to organise its rally in Port Harcourt, can anyone guarantee that none of those who have had contact with the medical doctor will attend? It can only be better imagined the kind of danger that those who will attend the rally will be subjected to. Therefore, President Jonathan has a historic opportunity to put the well being of his compatriots above politics for once,’’ APC said.

“The same Federal Government has, because of this Ebola scare, postponed the resumption of all schools, yet the TAN is moving everywhere gathering people and increasing the chances of people catching Ebola. Mr. President cannot pretend not to know who the drivers of TAN are. He is a prominent member and many legislators are prominent members.”

He added, “This cannot stand. Today, two new cases of EVD have been discovered in Port Harcourt; yet they are going to have the South-South rally today.

On his part, Sagay condemned the attitude of Nigerian politicians of placing their political ambition above the collective interest of the people.

He said, “In this country, politics controls every other thing. For politicians now, the most important thing is their election next year, Jonathan not excluded.

“Although, I understand that he gave directive that the Ibadan rally should not go on, I read that. But then if he gave such directive and they insisted on holding the rally, it could have been stopped. But it has not stopped.

“That is because for politicians, politics is the most important thing and Ebola will not stop them from doing what they want to do in order to get to power. So, it is a question of priority. So, for them, their political fortune is number one and Ebola is secondary.”

Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, Mr. Yinka Farounbi, described as hypocrisy the postponement of school resumption, while the President’s second term rallies continued.

Some things must simply transcend politics. This is one of them. Please stop the rallies now.”

jeffizy:

Apt.

ayukdaboss:
I'm still confused