Importance of giving absolute support to govt as it strives to defeat covid-19

Titilope Adegolu

On Sunday, 29th March, President Muhammadu Buhari announced some measures to check the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

They had since been greeted with different reactions. This was not unexpected.

While a school of opinion thought the measures lacked clarity, another praised the president for especially placing strategic locations on lockdown.

The constitutionality, or otherwise of the action became a quick debate, with top lawyers insisting that only governors can declare a lock down the size currently being experienced in Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun states.

The argument does not seem to be winning. Nigerians have mostly become preoccupied with daily statistics.

Probably most interesting, is the clear lines along which Nigerians are divided in terms of believability.

Even in Lagos which is the epicenter of the outbreak in Nigeria, there are those who stubbornly believe that coronavirus is a hoax.

It is this group of doubting Thomases that will make the fight against coronavirus, tougher.

Beyond announcing a lockdown and restricting movements, these set of unbelievers must be carried along in the fight against coronavirus.

The new definition of responsible citizenship is to remain socially inactive.

Citizens must do their best to support the fight against coronavirus, or watch the very worst happen to us all.