Hitherto, Nigeria was known as a whale that often swallowed the sinker, but it turned an epidemic virus that wants to end the tale of humanity.
Corona virus began in Wuhan, China, in November, 2019. Nigeria was supposed to have known the measures to prevent it spread, but because of health security in cognizance of the government and some notable personalities with bizarre mindset of selfishness, the virus penetrated.
The term “Security in cognizance of the government” aforementioned means that the federal government should have systematically strategize on measures to curb it immediately after its reported cases and rapid spread began in Wuhan.
In that, some countries still do not have this virus in Africa. Some of the preventive measures are closure of borders and airports, and any leader that values citizens lives should be able to predict predicaments that could happen and find solution to the contagion. Section 14 (2)(B) of Nigeria’s Constitution provides that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
We might be saying this virus entered other countries, but truth be said, had it been this virus started in Africa there are high probabilities that the virus would not have entered western countries; perhaps, they value their citizens’ lives than anything and they prefer political integrity to political celebrity.
Nigeria and her caricature. The first case of corona virus in this country was a sarcasm in that the Italian who was the first corona virus victim in Nigeria was later diagnosed negative; is this not enough for them to be, in health wise, security conscious? It means our indolent leaders were lackadaisical till the case raises to over 200 as I write.
Another comedy that is not really sarcastic is the directives we got from World Health Organization (WHO) and Federal Ministry of Health, they were obeyed to some extent, the following measures; washing of hands regularly, maintaining social distancing, avoid touching of nose, mouth and eyes, and use of facemask at the earlier stage.
But when it comes to total locked down! I think this is where Nigeria needs to pay evaluative attention to the her pantomime, because before this period of total lock down began, some individuals and establishments had donated more than twenty billion Naira (20,000,000,000) to prevent the spread of this virus. Permit me to jokingly look like a sacrilege. Gracias to those philanthropist that gave money to Buhari and his people for 2023 campaign. May God bless you abundantly as this is, at present, really helping the country.
Let me quickly remind us that Mr. President on 27th of March, declared total locked down in some spectacular states. The lockdown was imposed without any iota of provisions, is this logical? How can you lock people in their respective houses with no provisions? Is this a country? Is this how it is done in other countries of the world? Federal government even lied that they have distributed money to poor Nigerians—what a visible scam (ha! I must commend the current administration led by President Muhammad Buhari for her style of scamming Nigerians, bravo!).
Citizens are locked down with hunger, thank God for some people that can still survive without daily work but what of the people that daily live on the platter of no-work, no-food? You locked us down so as to battle the pandemic virus but here we are now battling with epidemic hunger.
I must commend the donations by some individuals and establishments; Banks, Tony Elumelu, Otedola, Aliko Dangote, Folorunso Alakija, Adeleke, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, Prophet T B Joshua…
But my question is; what is Buhari led administration using this money for? There lies the conundrum. Buhari led administration is so bad to the extent that it can’t cater for its citizens during this difficult time and there is a lot of money donated to deflate Federal Government’s no-money-excuse, thank God that corona virus is not a racist, else the affected poor would have gone through hell even in hell.
But should we praise Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar? A Nigerian that spent more than five billion Naira for primary election and gave fifty million naira (50,000,000) to federal government in fight against corona virus. To me this is as a result of poorness in thinking but nevertheless I still can’t blame a poor mind set because he has the right to spend his money as he deems it fit.
My modus vivendi; youths are just normal beings in the eyes of this insensitive and tyrant leaders. This country has been destabilized starting from the day we gained our independence. Our colonial masters had given the power to ambassadors of poverty—those they knew couldn’t represent us and couldn’t even serve us for progressiveness, those that will be giving alibis.
Can you imagine that face-masks that were sold at the rate of three for #50 is now #300 each and other things being put to prevent the spread of this virus is now expensive. Who is to be blamed for this, government or citizens? To me it is government, though citizens have their own blames too but then, government will be blamed for 95% because these materials should be free.
I mean totally free. In other countries of the word, face masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, and other materials being used to curb the spread of this virus is being distributed for free by their governments, be it state or federal government but in Nigeria the story is totally and different, all our government could do is to be feeding the people with unsubstantiated claims that they have distributed money to poor Nigerians while they are actually exploiting the citizens.
What a tragic country we are! To me, Nigerian government should have given us relief materials by now in this locked down period if they really want citizens to obey the law been made by them because how do you expect someone that has no money and rely on daily money for daily survival to stay indoor? Is that not terrible than the virus itself?
We are imploring Nigeria government with immediate alacrity to take some needed and necessary steps to save the lives of her citizens from dying of hunger and urge the stakeholders, nobles, philanthropists, and some notable personalities in the society to help using their wealth to save Nigerians as well.
Adedapo, a student of Education and Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, sent this piece from Ile-Ife. Email: rapkid11997@gmail.com