Some lawyers, including Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Thursday called on Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, to apologise over his earlier claim that the country had drugs in preparation against the spread of the Ebola virus.
Maku was quoted after the last week Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting as saying, “Nigeria is ready, because the Ministry has taken every precaution, including getting the vaccines and medicines in case there was any incident in Nigeria.”
Falana said Maku should apologise to Nigerians for giving false hope to Nigerians.
It has since been found out that no vaccine has been developed for treating the Ebola virus infection.
US President Barack Obama, was quoted as saying on Wednesday during a news conference at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC, that it was too early in the day to make the experimental drug, ZMapp, being developed, more widely available.
But Falana, while reacting to Maku’s claim on the telephone on Thursday, said, “He (Maku) has to withdraw that statement and apologise to Nigerians profusely for raising false hope because this is a scientific thing, it is not a Nollywood matter.”
He also urged the Lagos State Government to approach other religious leaders, who usually receive ill persons seeking spiritual help.
He said, “I want to commend the Lagos State Government for moving speedily. But it is not enough to talk to only Prophet T.B Joshua, they also engage other pastors.”
Another lawyer, Ikechukwu Ikeji, also demanded apology from Maku, as government officials must not be seen to be deceiving the citizenry.
He added if government officials who was found wanting must be shown the way out.
Ikeji said, “We all knew that Ebola had no cure before now. However, if he indeed made that statement, it has turned out to be false and he needs to apologise to Nigerians.
“Government representatives must not be seen to be deceiving the citizenry. There ought to be some form of trust between the government and the people.
“Flippancy should be discouraged and any official found wanting should be made to step down from office, to give such offices some form of respectability, even if a modicum of same.”
On his part, former Chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, expressed surprise at the minister’s comment.
He however added that such controversial comments were common with Maku.
He said, “Everyone knows that Mr. Maku, the Information Minister talks from every side of his mouth. In short he is loquacious and some of his statements bother on over-zealousness of a Nigerian office holder.
“The truth of the matter is that Ebola has no cure for now.”
Ubani expressed hope that God would “spare Nigerians the menace”, while he added that, “the prospect is scaring”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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