Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
Disturbed by the setback Coronavirus pandemic has unleashed on the people, Speaker Kogi state house of assembly, Matthew Kolawole has called on the Federal government to consider complete easing of the lockdown of the economy and other essential services.
In an interactive session with journalists in Lokoja on Monday , the Speaker who aligned himself with the position of the state Governor, Yahaya Bello on the pandemic said he has been convinced that the issue of covid-19 was more political than reality.
He said that COVID-19 has been politicised and commercialised for economic benefits accruing to some unpatriotic people, who have taken advantage of the fear created in the minds of gullible Africans.
“Honestly I want to allign myself with the position of the Governor that the issue is more political than reality, the symptoms of Covid-19 such as fever catarrh and pneumonia which we are all familiar with and we have our own way of treating it”. he said.
He said that even though Kogi state remained largely COVID-19 free, the state government had put measures in place to address the issue if ever cases are reported.
The Speaker lamented that the COVID-19 19 is getting unnecessary publicity,with attendant negative impact on the state economy .
He also disclosed that the state assembly has enacted series of legislation aimed at helping the state to effectively tackle the pandemic if it ever surfaced in the state.
He said that the house has also set up a committee under the leadership of the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Ahmed to liaise with the squadron committee set up by the Governor under the leadership of the Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja to fashion out ways to address the pandemic.
