Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has rejected the use of COVID-19 vaccine, falsely describing it as a killer.
Mr Bello, whose supporters are urging to vie for the presidential seat in 2023, has been pushing a conspiracy theory about COVID-19 since last year.
In a viral video, the Kogi governor condemned the use of the vaccine, saying it is meant to kill people.
Speaking while addressing a crowd, Bello doubted the authenticity of the vaccine, saying there is no cure for HIV and many other diseases troubling mankind.
“Vaccines are being produced in less than one year of COVID-19. There is no vaccine yet for HIV, malaria, cancer, headache and for several other diseases that are killing us. They want to use the (COVID-19) vaccines to introduce the disease that will kill you and us. God forbid,” he said.
“We should draw our minds back to what happened in Kano during the Pfizer polio vaccines that crippled and killed our children. We have learned our lessons.
“If they say they are taking the vaccines in the public allow them take their vaccines. Don’t say I said you should not take it but if you want to take it open your eyes before you take the vaccines.”
In his New Year broadcast, Bello said Kogi would not respond to the second wave of the virus with “mass hysteria”.
COVID-19 vaccines are not expected in Nigeria until the end of January.
