GEJ: ‘Crazy Liberian’ shouldn’t have travelled
President Goodluck Jonathan has described the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American credited with introducing Ebola to Nigeria, as a ‘crazy man’ who defied warnings of Liberian health authorities against travelling out of the West African country so he could be observed for the virus.
Speaking on Monday during the annual interfaith conference in Abuja, the president also implored Nigerians to shun burial ceremonies for now because based on his conversations with director-general of World Health Organisation, Dr Margaret Chan, he could say that 60 per cent of Ebola transmissions have occurred during the burials of victims.
“Some people like burial ceremonies. This is not the time for burial ceremony,” Jonathan said.
“Somebody is dead, he is dead. Leave him there. If he is dead, he is already dead. This is not the best time for those ceremonies.
“Based on the information available to me, about 60 per cent of the cases of the virus were transmitted during burials. There is need for Nigerians to be mindful of burials. Patrick Sawyer, who introduced the virus to Nigeria, contacted it during the burial of his sister, which he attended.”
Obviously miffed by Sawyer’s decision to travel to Nigeria at a time he was already a risk for the virus, Jonathan said: “Sawyer that brought this Ebola to Nigeria, his sister died of Ebola. And he started acting somehow; his country asked him not to leave the country, let them observe him, but the crazy man decided to leave and found his way here.”
He assured citizens that his government would do its best to contain the virus.
“On Wednesday, I will meet with governors of the states, and they will come along with their commissioners of health.
“We must make sure that every state is prepared. Where they lack, the federal government will support them.”
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it is real
No I don’t think he was crazy. Desperate and incredibly self-absorbed maybe, but crazy? No. He knew exactly what he was doing and I am inclined to think he wanted to get back into the U.S. where his family are and where he would get good treatment. For that, he threw all caution to the wind and was driven by survival. It doesn’t stop me from feeling angry about it though. But my anger is also towards the government (immigration etc.) who should have had a worst-case scenario process in place. Why did they (we) think Ebola in Nigeria was such a remote possibility? As usual, we are onlu reactive. So Mr. President, with due respect Sir, the government cannot absolve itself from blame here. Thank God for the real heroes at First Consultants.
@Ronke
If what I heard about man was true, him intentionally releasing body fluids on doctors and nurses attending to him because they refused to discharge him, then not only is he crazy but devilish.
There should be a ban on people coming into Nigeria from Liberia till Ebola is dealt with.
Why do we always blame others for our failures?
Let us just be thankful that Lagos State was on guard. Most other states would have let the fellow walk in without check.
Has the FG any plan at all to stop it from coming? Or were they all thinking about the next governor slated for impeachment?
Mr. President is absolutely correct. The
Liberian man was not only crazy but evil.
How can you come to Nigeria when you were placed on observation? Secondly why would The Liberian Govt not seize his travel documents? Why was he allowed to exit the. country? Was he larger than life or bigger than Liberia? Was it a deliberate attempt to spread the disease to Nigeria?
Too bad the Mr.sawyer is already rotten and his soul will also rot for this untold hardship he has brought into our land.
Lagos State Govt again set the pace by curtailing the spread and quickly establishing isolation centre’s. Fashola,well done.
My people can’t we field Fashola as the ACP presidential candidate? I think we should put religion and tribe aside and select a candidate that can solve our collective problems in Nigeria.