The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa has cautioned the senator representing Oyo Central, Teslim Folarin to respect his person and office over what he described as “unnecessary criticism of Oyo state government strategies” on COVID-19.
Mr Adisa in a statement in Ibadan on Wednesday, berated Senator Folarin’s stand on Oyo’s COVID-19 containment strategies, some of which according to the CPS, the federal government has now adopted, asking the lawmaker to respect his person and office.
According to the CPS, there is the need for Senator Folarin “to respect his person and office by refraining from using words like “dangerous” and “irresponsible” to describe actions of a popularly elected governor, saying, “those who have closely watched the actions of Governor Seyi Makinde since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic would realise that the governor’s steps have been informed by logic and scientific realities.”
“When everyone was clamouring for total lockdown, he resisted and went for a curfew and what is called partial lockdown. He closed the schools, worship centres, government offices and non-essential markets.
He insisted that those who work at night or patronise night clubs are more at risk of spreading coronavirus. He insisted on getting a scientific lid on the behavioural patterns of the virus in the community by conducting massive tests. Right now, his state has embarked on initial massive testing of 2,000 persons while another 10,000 persons would be tested during the upcoming community testing exercise,” he said.
Mr Adisa asked the senator to be graceful enough to apologise to Governor Makinde and swallow his words,” saying “Folarin has equally sold himself out as an enemy of the people by criticising President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech in which he relaxed the lockdown in some states, noting that it was clear the senator was interested in seeing people pushed into more hardship and frustration.
