Sheik Ahmad Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric, believes that it is suicidal and irresponsible for the Federal government to ease the lockdown while the nation continues its fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
President Buhari announced the ease of the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and the FCT starting from Monday, May 4th.
In a conversation with New Telegraph, Sheik Gumi expressed his view that the Federal government should not succumb to pressure from Nigerians but should remain resolute in its approach to combat the rampant viral disease.
He suggested that the decision to ease the lockdown is an attempt by the government to evade its responsibilities. He added that people are suffering from hunger due to the lockdown, and the government is not willing to allocate funds for the necessary relief efforts.
”The government is simply evading its responsibility. This is the truth; people are suffering from hunger, and the government is unwilling to allocate funds for relief efforts. So, they have decided that the best course of action is to release the people, but this is suicidal, and I regret to say it is irresponsible.
Yes, it is due to pressure and hunger. Otherwise, it is not the right thing to do. Even in China, where they have cautiously started to reopen, schools require every child to wear a mask, conduct extensive testing, and check individuals’ temperatures before allowing them into the school. Can we afford to do that here? We cannot. What we fear is the possibility of community transmission, where the virus spreads within the community, becoming endemic. This would have serious consequences, and we hope it does not happen.”
Expanding on his thoughts, he remarked:
”Frankly, I am uncomfortable, and I cannot find the words to describe what is happening, either regarding the government or the people. However, let me focus on the government, as it knows what it should do, although it is now attempting to deviate due to pressure. The Nigerian populace also presents its own challenges. People are resisting like a child being taken to the hospital for an injection. This is how Nigerians are behaving. You are trying to do what is best for them, but they are resisting. However, they cannot be entirely blamed, as they are hungry, uneducated, and poorly informed. Even the clergy and the Mallams are not willing to explain the real situation to them. Some of the resistance stems from what they have heard from religious leaders, so I cannot entirely blame them. However, the government is not doing enough.”