Borno State Deputy Governor, Hon. Umar Kadafur receiving the covid-19 vaccine
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri-
The Borno State Deputy Governor who is also the Chairman of The State Task Force on Covid-19, Hon. Umar Kadafur on Friday took the first dose of Covid-19 Astrazeenica vaccine at his office in the Government House Maiduguri alongside other VIPs and strategic leaders of the state.
The symbolic Covid-19 vaccination exercise for the top government officials witnessed the screening, registration and vaccination of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor Isa Hussaini Marte as the second person to take the vaccine, followed by the Head of Service, Barrister Simon Malgwi, The Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Bukar Talba and others.
But unfortunately, the covid-19 vaccination exercise scheduled for the state VIPs and strategic leaders did not witness the presence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Shuwa, the Hon. Speaker, BOSHA, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, State Chief Judge (SCJ), Justice Kashim Zanna and the Permanent Secretaries as well as the Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants to the Governor among others.
However, it would be recalled that the State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has been away for an official trip to The Republic of China, two days ago, precisely, Wednesday, the day of arrival of the covid-19 vaccine in Maiduguri.
Speaking with Journalist after taking the vaccine, The Deputy Governor said: “Some Borno State top government officials took the vaccine jabs as part of their collective effort to show solidarity and encourage the citizens of the state to be vaccinated.”
He appealed to the people to cooperate with health workers and take the vaccine as it is a preventive measure which is safe for better health.
“All citizens are to remain vigilant and observe the safe rules of the COVID-19 by washing hand, using sanitiser and wearing facemask as well as maintaining the distancing measure in a gathering”, he said.
On his part, The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor Marte who is also the overseeing State Commissioners of Health, said the vaccine is safe and healthy for people to take.
According to him, “it is a preventive measure and it is better people should accept this preventive measure and protect themselves in order to safe the society at large.”
Similarly, the State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, encouraged the masses to take the vaccine and use the certificate as a pass to enable one move freely within and outside the state and country. Hence the vaccine is a license for travellers especially, those travelling abroad.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that most of the top government officials and political office holders were uninformed about the covid-19 vaccination exercise for the state’s VIPs and strategic leaders.
As at Friday morning, some of the State Commissioners and Special Advisers as well as Permanent Secretaries claimed ignorant of the date of the scheduled event at the Government House Maiduguri.
Few of the VIPs and strategic leaders that spoke to our correspondent were of the opinion that “except it is made compulsory by the government, they would not take the covid-19 vaccine because of the controversy surrounding the vaccine both home and abroad”.
Others were of the view with no prove to back their claims, that the vaccine is unsafe for human beings and they have doubt about its originality and content.