Coronavirus: Stranded Nigerians in China accuse Reps of trivializing their ordeal
Posted by FN Editor | 4 years ago | 1,337 times
Nigerians in China have accused the House of Representatives of trivialising the ordeal of over 60 citizens stranded in the city of Wuhan, which had been hit by coronavirus.
While faulting the 20,000 Yuan (about N1m) donated to the stranded persons by the Nigerian Ambassador to China, Ahmed Jidda, they expressed gratitude to the government and citizens of the Peoples Republic of China for their concerted efforts to ensure that everybody in the virus-hit areas was taken care of, irrespective of their nationality or religion.
“It is imperative that the international community fully collaborates with the Chinese government to ensure that this challenge is resolved as soon as possible”, they pleaded.
A Nigerian in China, Nnamdi Onwuka, stated these in an e-mail sent PUNCH on Sunday. It was entitled, ‘Don’t trivalise our situation.’
He said, “The Nigerian community in China has expressed shock and disappointment in the members of House of Representatives for trivialising the ordeal of over 60 Nigerians stranded in the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China following a motion by one of the lawmakers calling for necessary actions by the Federal Government to ensure that those Nigerians returned to their fatherland.
“It is unfortunate that rather than attracting a sober reflection and robust deliberation from the lawmakers, the motion became object of mockery by those who swore to an oath to ensure that their official conducts were in the best interest of Nigerians.
“That video clips of that ‘show of shame’ in the legislative chamber has gone viral here (in China) and Nigerians have become objects of jokes by citizens of other countries who could not fathom why responsible legislators would make mockery of such a well-conceived motion, even as other nations, including Kenya have taken steps to remove their citizens from Wuhan.”
He added, “We reiterate our call for the immediate evacuation of our compatriots in Wuhan as government officials have repeatedly told the world that Nigeria has the resources to quarantine returnees as it did during the outbreak of Ebola.
“While we appreciate the Nigerian ambassador to China, Ahmed Jidda, for the donation of 20,000 Yuan (approximately N1m) to Nigerians trapped in Wuhan, it is the considered view of Nigerian community that such piecemeal gestures though helpful, is not a long-term solution to the crisis.”
Readers Comments
comment(s)
No comments yet. Be the first to post comment.
