Coronavirus has come to stay, says Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on epidemiologists and scientists to intensity further efforts towards getting vaccine for coronavirus, pointing out that, the disease like flu may never completely disappear from the surface of earth.

Penpushing reports that, Obasanjo made this known on Friday while delivering lecture with the theme,’Covid-19 and Nigeria Security issues: the Way Forward’ organized by Abeokuta Club in honour and memory of Chief Sobo Sowemimo who spearheaded the establishment and founding of the Club

The former President, who said he was not going to engage in the controversy of the origin or genesis of coronavirus stated that the virus may only be rendered weak and feeble and preventable with vaccine

‘ In fact, it has been recommended by WHO for treatment in acute cases and we should be equipped with such drug.  It is also hoped that a vaccine will soon be available as some human trials are already going on.  When that happens, we should quickly be equipped with it, as COVID-19 like flu may never completely disappear from the surface of the earth.  It may only be rendered weak and feeble and preventable with vaccine’, he said

Penpushing further reports that, he noted that Africa nations did not well prepared for the pandemic, as done by the developed nations, but pointed out that, the continent has been lucky, stressing that Africa learnt some lessons of how those advanced societies attempted to cope with the pandemic

‘Suffice it to say for now that we find ourselves in Africa in general and in Nigeria in particular in a situation of a pandemic we are ill-prepared for and poorly equipped for. We, fortunately, had the benefit that it had ravaged China, Europe and the US before it became a serious problem in our continent and in our country’.

‘We learned some lessons of how those advanced societies attempted to cope with the pandemic.  We learned some lessons and we had some time to prepare for the onslaught.  We also had the cooperation and collaboration of World Health Organisation, WHO, an organization that had done a great work in the face of inadequate global collaboration to work together in order to stem the tide of the menace of the pandemic as countries seem to be working in silos’, he stated.

The former President, however, commended efforts of the Nigerian government in the fight against the virus, pointing out that, idea of leaving the States to deal with the issue mainly at their level on the principle of subsidiarity was a good one.

‘It allowed each State with its limited resources and facilities to gear itself up and to issue instructions and regulations on restrictions based on the reality of the State. Although restriction is being lifted, we are not out of the woods yet’, he emphasised.

‘Awareness-raising must continue and we must disabuse the minds of the ordinary people who are being made to believe that COVID-19 is not real or that it is the disease of the rich. They must be conscious of the fact that the disease has no social or economic limitation or barrier’.

‘It can afflict anybody no matter his or her age, gender, profession or trade, social or economic standing.  We must not let down our guard because we may not have reached the peak yet.  If the epicenter has moved from China in Asia to Europe to North America and now to Brazil in South America, Africa may or may not escape being an epicenter’. Obasanjo noted.

‘And even then, we must be prepared for the possibility of a second wave.  The UK’s claim of inventing a cure drug, dexamethasone, has not been disputed. But meanwhile, we should scrupulously observe the regulations and restrictions: hand-washing with soap for at least 20 seconds, sanitizing, maintaining 1metre (3feet) social distance between yourself and others, wearing masks and avoiding large congregation or gathering.