The former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has been dragged out by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, for asking for compensation from China over the novel virus.
Well, recall that last month, Oby who was ones the former vice president for the Africa region at the World Bank had told China to pay compensation to African countries over the novel virus.
As at that time, Oby, in a post on ”The Washington Post’, disclosed that China must pay for failing to manage COVID-19 which had severely injured Africa’s development prospects and worsened the conditions of the poor.
As stated by her, the best solution was for China to accord damages and liability compensation to Africa.
She asserted that Africa should not suffer more because another powerful country failed to act responsibly.
Meanwhile, on reacting to her statement, the Embassy of China in Nigeria stated that Oby’s statement was irresponsible and senseless.
However, a statement issued and signed by the Press Secretary for the Embassy, Sun Saixiong, stated that China has always been transparent and responsible since the outbreak of the pandemic disease.
Saixiong wondered if the United States offered compensations to countries for the 2009 H1N1 flu and also calling on the International community not to resort to mutual accusation or demand retribution and accountability but work in solidarity
He maintained that in 2008, the financial turmoil in the United States caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, turned into a global financial crisis and no one asked the US to take the consequences.
He then urged Oby to respect the facts, science, and international consensus and stop allowing ’herself dance to other’s tune.
Furthermore, Saixiong also accused Oby, of attacking and blaming China for nothing.
“Did anyone ask the US to offer compensation for the 2009 H1N1 flu, which was first diagnosed before breaking out on a large scale in the US and then spread to 214 countries and regions, killing nearly 200,000 people? AIDS was first reported in the US in the 1980s and then swept across the world, including Africa, causing untold sufferings to countless victims.
“China has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures to contain its spread and conduct international cooperation. In this process, China has made tremendous sacrifices, accumulated valuable experience, and made significant contributions to the global response. The international community bears witness to and applauds China’s efforts and progress,” it said.
The Embassy reiterated that the novel virus was a common enemy to human being and China is a victim not an accomplice.
“We must understand that our enemy is the virus, not China. The international community can only defeat the virus by pulling together. Attacking and discrediting others will not save time and lives lost,” Guardian quoted the embassy as saying.
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