Co-ordinator of the coalition, Mohammed Dahiru, in a statement in Abuja said their call was to avoid a possible replica of attacks, which led to the death of some health workers on polio immunization in Kano early this year by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said the intended publicity and fanfare that would be accorded the visit of Gates will endanger the lives of more polio workers in the north.
“You will recall that in February this year, 10 health workers on polio immunization round were shot dead in Kano while three were killed in Borno States. The dreaded Boko Haram sect issued a statement claiming and justifying this killing.
“Subsequently the exercise was suspended for one month. These reversed the drive, gains and successes recorded in previous years. It was a major setback. Besides, Boko Haram, in claiming responsibility for the attack on the revered Emir of Kano also cited, among other reasons, his support for immunization of children in his emirate.
“All these have ripple effects on immunization and the eradication of polio in the country. The emerging scenario now calls for a change of tactics. And this is where we differ on the planned visit of Bill Gates to Nigeria,” he said.
He added: “We acknowledge the enormous contributions of Bill Gates to the eradication of polio and other diseases in Nigeria but we fell his planned visit on a polio mission with its attendant publicity and hype may negate the gains achieved through unpublicised approach than fanfare and drum-beat.”
Source: Daily Trust
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