You’re not PTF’s spokesperson to respond on COVID-19 — Group tackles Fayemi over Yahaya Bello’s claim

A group of young Nigerians, GYB2PYB, has attacked the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi over his comment on his Kogi state counterpart, Yahaya Bello’s claim on COVID-19 vaccine that has generated so much controversy.

Newsflash had earlier reported that Fayemi had cautioned Yahaya Bello, not to risk the lives of the citizens over his recent utterances concerning COVID-19 vaccines.

Fayemi said the Kogi governor should watch what he says in the public in order not risk the lives of the people.

Fayemi while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Thursday, urged the Governor to thread with care.

He said “while the Kogi Governor has a right to his reservations, the most appropriate response to a matter of such import is not to be dismissive.”

Fayemi said the “preponderance at the level of the Nigerian Governors Forum believes that COVID-19 is real,” adding that “there is a need to respond to the challenges that have emanated from the pandemic.”

He said that COVID-19 is not just a health issue, adding that “it behooves public office holders to work in concert with the Federal Government to get to the bottom of the problem which is not peculiar to Nigeria.”

Recall that Yahaya Bello had discouraged Nigerians from taking the approved COVID-19 vaccines by the Federal government, saying COVID-19 vaccines could be dangerous to the health.

Yahaya Bello in a video widely circulating on Facebook since Sunday morning could be seen discouraging a jeering crowd of supporters from taking the vaccines.

“…They want to use the (COVID-19) vaccines to introduce the disease that will kill you and us. God forbid!” Mr Bello said.

The governor hinged his criticism of the foremost COVID-19 vaccines currently being rolled out in nearly 50 countries globally on the breakneck speed at which they were developed.

“These vaccines are being produced in last than one year of COVID-19. There is no vaccine yet for HIV, malaria, cancer and for several diseases that are killing us… We should draw our minds back to what happened in Kano during the polio vaccines that crippled and killed our children. We have learned our lessons.

“If they say they are taking the vaccines in the public allow them take their vaccines. Don’t say I said you should not take it but if you want to take it open your eyes before you take the vaccines,” he said.

But group of young Nigerians, GYB2PYB, reacting to Governor Kayode Fayemi, following its counter comment on governor Bello’s debated claim.

The group has thrown its weight behind Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, over his claim on COVID-19 vaccine that has generated so much controversy.

In a statement, signed on Friday by the Director-General of GYB2PYB, Amb Oladele Nihi, the group replied the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, following its counter comment on governor Bello’s debated claim.

Recall the NGF on Thursday, 21 January 2021, has said Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is entitled to his opinion over the reality or otherwise of the COVID-19 pandemic and the purpose of the vaccines, but that he should not risk the lives of the citizens of his state.

Reacting, Mr. Nihi described Yahaya Bello’s message to Nigerians as ‘resonating’ while calling on the forum to desist from playing political gimmicks over the matter.

“It appears Governor Fayemi is confused and not sure of how to go about his Presidential ambition, and seeing how GYB (Governor Yahaya Bello) have dominated the political space, has chosen to convert his Chairmanship of the Governors’ forum to his campaign tool.

“GYB did not speak on behalf of the Governors’ forum, Governors’ forum is not the spokesperson of the PTF,” he said.

“So, the Governors’ forum attacking GYB’s message to the Nigerian public is a misnomer and done in bad taste.

“It would have been more honourable for Fayemi to come out and attack GYB than hiding under the garb of the Governors’ forum. His Excellency is on course, his message is resonating and detractors will fail,” the group leader concluded.

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