TheCable

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to thank God that he has not contracted coronavirus.

Buhari and Abba Kyari, his chief of staff, underwent test for the virus. While the president’s result came negative, that of Kyari was positive. He contracted the disease after a trip to Germany.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ikenga Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesman, asked Nigerians to come together and not see the outbreak of coronavirus as a time for playing politics.

Ugochinyere described Kyari as “a resource to presidency and a trusted confidant of the president.”

“The Nigerian opposition coalition, CUPP has expressed gratitude to God over the negative result of President Muhammadu Buhari following his coronavirus test,” Ugochinyere said.

“We wish the chief of staff speedy recovery and pray for divine intervention for him. We call that the best possible hands and all available resources be deployed to ensure the safety of Mallam Abba Kyari.

“He is obviously a resource to the presidency and a trusted confidant of the President and his wellbeing will keep the President in a good frame of mind to diligently lead our country in these very trying times.

“The outcome of this positive test of the chief of staff to the president is worrisome and must not be politicized by any person or treated with kid gloves. The containment of the contacts of Mallam Kyari, which most likely touches the entire leadership of the country must be attended to with dispatch and professionalism.

“This contact search must be comprehensive and the inspector-general of police and the DG SSS must use all safe and possible means to compel obedience to this national security and emergency situation.

“The vice-president, all ministers, secretary to the government of the federation, head of service, all APC Governors who attended the APC leadership peace meeting, the Bayelsa state governor who also visited the president, the speaker of the house of representatives who also met with the president on the 16th of March, all who attended the commissioning of the emergency number 112 by the president on 19th March and indeed all who have visited the villa or met with the chief of staff to the president since that time.”

He said anyone who still organises any gathering of more than 50 persons under any guise whatsoever should be arrested for threatening national security.