*Says disease’s a call to improve healthcare
Member of the House of Representatives from Kajuru/Chikun federal constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Umar Yakubu Barde has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the failure of leadership at all levels of government.
“The God of the masses is at work. I feel duty-bound to assess myself for the period God has given me to better the lives of Nigerians and since it is a collective responsibility, I admit we have failed as leaders,” he said.
Barde, however, said on Monday that though the pandemic was a disaster, it might equally be a blessing in disguise.
According to the lawmaker who was the minority whip in the 8th Assembly, the present global health challenge called for sober reflection particularly on the part of leaders at all levels.
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He said, most leaders who hitherto flew abroad to seek medical attention even for minor aliments would now be forced to look inward since there were restrictions on travels because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was of the view that there was a failure on the part of leaders on the health sector and stressed that with the present challenge, leaders would’ve no option but to take the situation as a wake-up call to improve the healthcare sector.
“At times like this, with a health pandemic all over the world, It’s appropriate to ask ourselves as leaders how well we have done in the provision of health care to our people.”
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“COVID-19 though a disaster to all might be a blessing in disguise because it will force us as leaders to look inward since we cannot go abroad for health care.”
“The God of the masses is at work. I feel duty-bound to assess myself for the period God has given me to better the lives of Nigerians and since it is a collective responsibility, I admit we have failed as leaders.”
“Now that this challenge is before us, we can still do something. It is never late to start now. President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors amongst others, this is a wake-up call to us to improve our healthcare system” he said.