President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that pastors, imams, musicians and sports personalities should take the COVID-19 vaccine on national television.
Bibian Anekwe News reports that the president stated this during a meeting with Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
According to Buhari, Nigerians will believe in the potency of the vaccine when religious leaders and other popular personalities take the vaccine on live television.
Speaking after the meeting, Fayemi said the more such people take the COVID-19 on live television the more the likelihood of resistance will break down.
He said: “Mr. President has agreed with me that he would convey to the PTF the necessity of using other influencers, maybe the Chief Imams, the Bishops, top musicians, our sports personalities.
“Because, the more of such people are seen taking the vaccines the more the likelihood of resistance will break down in our various localities. So, we discussed that.”
Fayemi also confirmed that members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will take the COVID-19 vaccine on live television to encourage Nigerians to accept the vaccine.
“Absolutely,” Fayemi answered when asked if governors will also take the vaccines on live television. “We too will like to demonstrate to our citizens that we believe that vaccines would work.”
Recall that the federal government had said provision would be made for a live broadcast of President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
This was made known by the executive director and chief executive officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib.
“We will like to see a situation where Mr. president, the vice-president, the SGF, critical leaders come and take the vaccine in the full glare of the public to demonstrate that these vaccines are safe. So we have to make provisions for those,” he said.
