COVID-19: This is not the time to politicize coronavirus - Former minister warns


- Chief Ebenezer Babatope is begging Nigerians not to play politics with coronavirus


- The former minister of transportation pleaded with Nigerians to come together to tame the deadly virus, which is a common enemy of all

- Babatope also noted that this is not the time to play silly and irresponsible politics with the pandemic


Following the spread of coronavirus, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a former minister of transportation, has pleaded with Nigerians to come together as the country battles to tame the deadly virus, saying it is wrong to play politics with the pandemic.

Babatope who made the plea in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday, May 6, advised against politicizing the pandemic.


The former minister went on to say that it would be irresponsible to make the disease a subject of unnecessary politics.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain described the disease as a common enemy that all Nigerians must join forces to fight.


He said: “COVID-19 is a common enemy of all, so we should forget our differences and battle this problem together. This is not the time to play PDP, APC, or APGA. We must not play silly and irresponsible politics with the pandemic."

Babatope while lamenting over the rise in the coronavirus death toll, urged the government at all levels and various stakeholders to do more to curb the disease.


The ex-minister expressed his worry over the economic impact of the disease, particularly concerning job losses. He called on the government to evolve strategies to stop the trend.


Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government has vowed to lock down parts of the country again should there be a spike in coronavirus cases.

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This was revealed during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday, May 4.

Speaking at the briefing, the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, lamented that many banks flouted the NCDC’s guideline for social distancing, infection prevention and control.

He said although the NCDC expected some lapses in compliance with safety precautions, it was worried by the widespread disobedience to the guidelines by corporate organisations

The money is also our common friend...make dem share give too.