The Inter-Party Advisory Council, South West chapter on Wednesday threatened to approach the court to challenge the administration of coronavirus vaccine doses on Nigerian citizens.
IPAC, which is an umbrella body of opposition political parties, queried the efficiency of the AstraZeneca vaccine recently received by the Federal Government, saying there have been reports of side effects from it.
This was contained in a statement made available to reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, signed by Comrade Abayomi Arabambi and Prince Tolu Ajayi, the Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively.
According to the statement, the Federal Government needs to explain why it is mandating the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine despite its rejection by other European countries.
The group said it is sad that the government is treating its citizens like guinea pigs, with the administration of the vaccine.
It hailed the stance of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on COVID-19, saying the governor should be supported on this vaccine rejection by all governments in Nigeria and stop this questionable vaccine transaction with AstraZeneca.
They said: “Every reasonable citizen will want the Boss Mustapha led COVID-19 Committee to explain to Nigerians why it is considered a necessity by his Committee for the Nation to purchase and administer this same vaccine either banned or rejected by other European Nations, even outside Africa with such a huge and frightening tons of money. In fact, we in IPAC South West Chapter insist for an immediate public justification for committing the Nation to the vaccine that practically offers nothing to immunise or cure the virus while the involved Astra has even refused to stand liable for any after-effect of taking the vaccine.
“We can not allow ourselves to keep being led like robots by any careless and reckless leaders any more. This is one wastage of resources that will never be allowed to go through. We in IPAC South-West Chapter are determined to approach the Courts if the Boss Mustapha Committee fails to make a public statement soon to apologise for this totally reckless drive to endanger the lives of Nigerians through this untenable and possible economic ruination being forced on the Treasuries of the unwary and sleeping Governments across Nigeria.
“One baffling question is why the Nigerian Federal Government allow ASTRA to sign in the clause that free it of any liability over any adverse effects on people who take the vaccine? Again, it is now being suspected that most of PMB’S appointees have now designed a way to defraud the federal government with very careless deceptive means, but they must understand that for us in IPAC, South West Chapter, this is an inexcusable weakness in the President’s fight against corruption.”
The IPAC leaders called on state governments in the South West zone to probe the efficacy of the vaccine before accepting to administer same on their people.
They commended Bello for his strong rejection of the coronavirus vaccine, urging other Governors to follow in his stead.
“We are saying that Nigerians should stand up and fight this avoidable wastage of our national wealth. The Kogi State Governor should be supported on this vaccine rejection by all Governments in Nigeria and stop this questionable vaccine transaction with AstraZeneca,” they said.