COVID-19: Mixed Views On Buhari’s Madagascar Move

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

Mixed reactions have trailed the decision of the Federal Government to resort to the controversial “herbal remedy” from Madagascar as a therapy for COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina had accused the World Health Organization of not supporting the country’s herbal cure for COVID-19, because it is “African”.

Rajoelina has religiously publicized the herbal cure which mainly derived from an anti-malaria herbal plant, even going to an extent of drinking it on National TV.

Several African countries have accepted the Madagascar herbal remedy, including Nigeria.

At the time of filing this report, Madagascar has recorded 186 coronavirus cases, 101 recovered with no death, the highest rate of recovery in the World.

Nigeria’s acceptance of the Madagascar herbal cure for COVID-19 has, however, generated mixed reactions on the microblogging platform.

Some section of Twitter users criticized the FG for neglecting Nigeria indigenous herbal medicines that were initiated by Prof. Maurice Iwu, former INEC boss and Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ile Ife.

Prof Iwu had announced that his team of researchers had gotten a plant-based cure for COVID-19 and called on the FG to invest in the potential herbal cure for COVID-19.

In the same vein, the Ooni of Ile Ife had also suggested the use of indigenous herbal plants for the treatment of COVID-19. The monarch even took to his Instagram account, to enumerate some of the indigenous plants with potential to cure COVID-19.

Questioning the development, Reno Omokri, Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, questioned the rationale of importing the Madagascar herbal cure and neglecting Prof. Iwu.

“I don’t get it. Why would the regime of General @MBuhari import the herbal #CoronaVirus cure from Madagascar, without first trying out Professor Maurice Iwu’s cure? Doesn’t charity begin at home? Is it because he is an Igbo 5 percenter?” Omokri tweeted.

Some section of Twitter users commended the decision, while noting that the herbal remedy should be subjected to clinical validation before usage.

Former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi commended the action of the FG, while also calling for clinical validation of the product.

The former vice presidential candidate urged FG to extend such support for local researchers.

“I firmly support the authorisation of @MBuhari for importation and subjection of the Madagascar #COVID19 Syrup to standard validation process for pharmaceuticals, and possibly for use in the cure of this virus.

“Similar authorisation and encouragement should be given to local inventions. This will save us scarce forex and will give confidence to domestic researchers and inventors. -PO,” he tweeted.

Former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani opined that the remedy should be clinically and scientifically tested and if effective it should be order in bulk but if otherwise, it should be discarded.

“Madagascan #COVID19 remedy should be clinically & scientifically tested:Once it’s found to be effective & with no serious side effects,it should be approved,purchased in bulk quantities & supplied to our clinics.If there are serious issues with the remedy,it should be discarded,” he wrote.

GreenwhiteGreen gathered the following tweets:

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