Some Officials of the Nigerian government reportedly contradicted themselves on the social distancing rule on Saturday, while laying to rest, the late Chief of Staff to the President and a member of the presidency inner circle, Abba Kyari despite the COVID-19 lockdown order enforced in the FCT Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states.
The order currently being enforced globally was to curb the spread of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, but some Presidential aides reportedly violated the rule as they gathered and freely interacted with one another at Gudu cemetery in Abuja while paying last respect to Kyari in what they termed a ‘private burial.’
The burial as carried out and broadcasted live on national TV stations in the country appears to have gone contrary to earlier stance by authorities and was also in contrast to what Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had reportedly said that Covid-19 dead bodies would not be released for burial.
Another disturbing observation allegedly observed during the burial was that close to about 200 people gathered for the burial, effectively breaking federal government’s guideline that not more than 20 or at most 50 people should gather at a point in time.
The federal, state, local governments, NGOs, and corporate organisations have for long stressed the need to avoid public gatherings or strictly maintain the social distancing rule in extreme cases that one must go out.
Recall that a popular Nollywood Actress Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband were arrested and prosecuted by the Lagos state government for violating the social distancing rule by hosting house party to celebrate her husband’s birthday. The couple have since been found guilty of the offence and penalized for the action by a court in Lagos.
ALSO READ: Abba Kyari: FCTA Quarantines Mourners at Gudu Cemetery, Decontaminates Environment
The New Diplomat reported that Kyari died on Friday at First Cardiology hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos following complications arising from his COVID-19 treatment.
While frowning at the action, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday warned against mass gatherings as the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and other victims of the COVID-19 pandemic are buried.
Even at this time, as we mourn loved ones lost to COVID-19, including the recently deceased, President’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, we need to refrain from attending mass gatherings to prevent the further spread of #COVID19
Let us #StaySafe & protect each other
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 18, 2020
Meanwhile, Twitter was agog with comments over the action while the burial lasted as users insisted that all those who attended the burial should have been questioned by now as they did to Akindele’s house party attendants. Many were distraught that the these officials of the Buhari’s government who allegedly breached the social distancing rule should equally be subjected to the same treatment meted out to others who did same.
Firstly, why did the NCDC released the corpse? How many corpse have they released so far??
Secondly, when will the police arrest and charge everyone that was present at the mallam Abba kyari funeral as they did to funke akindele for violating the quarantine act? 🤔
— Dr. Akeula Trendy ✨🌍 (@akeula_trendy) April 18, 2020
I'm watching late Abba Kyari's burial, live on TV.
The Nigerian Govt should apologise to Funke Akindele and refund her money immediately. pic.twitter.com/4K4I6DWfxd
— Henry Shield (@henryshield) April 18, 2020
Also, a rights activist and lawyer, Edward Brisibe, has reacted to the violation, stating that the action by these officials appear to show that “some persons are more Nigerian than others.”
Edward in a statement on Saturday, said: “First I want to use this medium in joining the federal government to mourn the death of a man that has played a key role in this administration as well as the families of those who have lost a loved one to the virus.
“But however, on behalf of Nigerians who have lost a loved one as a result of the pandemic and could not have access to such victims for burial owing to the claims by the federal government through the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed that corpses of COVID-19 can’t be claimed by families for burial, the case of Kyari has sown that some persons are more Nigerian than others
“It was indeed sickening and sad to read that the late CoS was flown to Abuja, received by officials of the presidency and family members, and given a private funeral at the Guru general cemetery while families that have lost loved ones to the virus, have been deprived from having access to bury such victims.”
