NIGERIANS SHOULD TRUST SCIENCE, NOT FICTION

“Yesterday, the esteemed Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka made comments on the legal status and description of 14-day lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Professor Soyinka is not a medical professor. His qualifications are in English literature, and his prizes are for writing books and plays for theatres. He is of course entitled to his opinions – but that is exactly all they are: semantics, not science. They cannot – and should not - therefore be judged as professional expertise in this matter in any shape or form.

“Across the world – from parts of the United States and China, to countries including the United Kingdom and France, government - mandated lockdowns are in place to slow and defeat the spread of coronavirus. All have been declared, and all have been made necessary, based on medical and scientific evidence. The guidance of the Nigerian Government’s medical specialists is to advise the same.

“Professor Soyinka has also declared, doubtless based on his specialism as a playwright, that: “We are not in a war emergency’’.

Eminent scientists say otherwise:
“Dr Richard Hatchett, Head of the International Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (and former Director of the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) has said, ‘War is an appropriate analogy’.

“Professor Anthony Fauci, Director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force has said of the battle against the pandemic: ‘It’s almost like the fog of war’.

“As for the legality of the lock down, the Government of Nigeria’s primary duty in law and action is the defence of the people of Nigeria. We face a global pandemic. Nigeria is now affected. The scientific and medical guidance the world over is clear: the way to defeat the virus is to halt its spread through limitation of movement of people.

“Perhaps Wole Soyinka may write a play on the coronavirus pandemic, after this emergency is over. In the meantime, we ask the people of Nigeria to trust the words of our doctors and scientists - and not fiction writers - at this time of national crisis.’’

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 1, 2020

So Garba you wan enter express abi?

Let me get my pen and paper...WS reply fit win another Alfred Nobel.

Better not to reply.

The reply is a disaster.

Soyinka brought it upon himself though.

But they need one with brain to reply prof.

I am almost certain Garba Shehu will get a response soon from Wole Soyinka.

So because an American expert said that ''it's almost like a fog of war'', Buhari and Garba Shehu understood it to literaly mean a total declaration of war?
Shehu and Buhari should take it easy. We're combatting a virus, not fighting a war. People should not be made to starve

Strawman defense.
Wole Soyinka commented on legality.
He should have been compared to a lawyer and not a doctor because
I didn't read that he was recommending treatment or medical interventions.

Garba Shehu analogy is pathetic and unfortunate. He should focus his attention on alleviating COVIS-19 ravaging Aso Rock

fergie001:
So Garba you wan enter express abi?
Let me get my pen and paper...WS reply fit win another Alfred Nobel.

Garba Shehu hasn't been talking since this coro period. I almost thought he covered his mouth instead of his nose

teadrake:
Garba Shehu analogy is pathetic and unfortunate. He should focus his attention on alleviating COVIS-19 ravaging Aso Rock

Or rather help the Lagos State Government find the missing Abba Kyari

It's now officially "things fall apart". Was WS not among those who foisted this disaster called Buhari on us? This drama go sweet die.

Those men who actually stood their ground against the military and fought to ensure the enthronement of democracy will not shut their mouths now and allow some self acclaimed converted democrats and their opportunist aides make mess of the entire process.

The Corona pandamic didn't start yesterday, the decision to lockdown the affected states wasn't taken on Sunday. If the President had truly wanted to follow the democratic norms to seek the approval of the NASS, he could have done so and still get the nods of the NASS members easily. After all if it's loan they wanted approval for, they know how to go about it.

Make no mistake, the lockdown is perhaps the most apt decision to make and has received massive support from everyone but please do it within the ambit of the law and not set some unpallatable precedents

If anyone is going to be allowed to ride rough on the constitution, it shouldn't be this government judging by its antecedents of disobeying valid court orders.

"but that is exactly all they are: semantics, not science. They cannot – and should not - therefore be judged as professional expertise in this matter in any shape or form."




This guy shehu really exposed Prof to ridicule.
I eagerly anticipate for how it unfolds.

Buhari will be ashame of Una,
After hurriedly,
With a pre recorded and edited video termed live you end up with this

Zoom and see for yourself
The eye socket forcing itself
And the mask lump on the impostor

After Nigeria we claim, high IQ, while a uneducated riff raff are deceiving them

fergie001:
So Garba you wan enter express abi?
Let me get my pen and paper...WS reply fit win another Alfred Nobel.

Which express?
Soyinka is blantantly talking rubbish.

Any body speaking against the lockdown is brazenly silly.

Faponmile:
It's now officially "things fall apart". Was WS not among those who foisted this disaster called Buhari on us? This drama go sweet die.

Very shameful of him, after saying all kinds of things against gej,he asked the people to vote pmb.Today he is singing a different song. And I keep asking if he was blind in sense when he said so much promising words about pmb. WS's ethnic perception has reduced him to nothing before people.

This approach isn't right for public servants. They are paid by taxpayers

Garba Shehu Be careful na express you the go so,

Very unprofessional if you ask me, why make an enemy out of a Soyinka

aolawale025:
This approach isn't right for public servants. They are paid by taxpayers

MelesZenawi:


Which express?

Soyinka is blantantly talking rubbish.

Zombie,have you ever make sence before!

MelesZenawi:
Any body speaking against the lockdown is brazenly silly.

Well done..
Scion of the caliphate .
Your yansh go soon open

reality1010:

Very shameful of him, after saying all kinds of things against gej,he asked the people to vote pmb.Today he is singing a different song. And I keep asking if he was blind in sense when he said so much promising words about pmb. WS's ethnic perception has reduced him to nothing before people.

Keep your hate induced jaundiced view to yourself .
Soyinka has always been on the side of truth and justice . I'm sure history would be kind to him .

Wole Soyinka is fighting for vulnerable folks like you . Someone like Soyinka would never be harassed by our undisciplined soldiers neither would his daily bread be an issue for him . He is over 80 years already . What else would he gained from shying away from the truth

Defending Buhari is definitely the most difficult job on earth.

Iyiataata92:
So because an American expert said that ''it's almost like a fog of war'', Buhari and Garba Shehu understood it to literaly mean a total declaration of war?
Shehu and Buhari should take it easy. We're combatting a virus, not fighting a war. People should not be made to starve

It's now a gorilla war warfare

futuregovernor:
Zombie,have you ever make [d]sence[/s] sense before!

Sense rather.

Half education is dangerous.

WesleyPepper:
Well done.. Scion of the caliphate . Your yansh go soon open

Tell that to Omoluabis and illorin.
Na hunger go finish una.

MelesZenawi:


Tell that to Omoluabis and illorin.

Na hunger go finish una.

While ISIS and stupidity finish your people .
Go to Maiduguri . Body go tell you . Aboki nama