Nigerian COVID-19: A People Without People Reportage

OLAWUNI SUNDAY

I did my vigil as usual to monitor the daily reports of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and National Center for Disease Control (NCDC). As expected, the ratio was declared. They have been able to keep everyone in dark as to the reality of the so called new cases, analysed state by state. Unfortunately, they are still falling in the aspects of recovery. From which states are the recovery?

This Corona virus palava is not as realistic in Africa as in western countries. 79% of cases in Nigeria are pure malaria related. Observe the numbers being discharged everyday in NIGERIA. The percentage daily discharged in Nigeria surpasses any country in the Africa if not the world.( using population as yardstick). They are using RATIO to declare daily cases and recovery rate. Which states are the people discharged from? You can only read that 2 states discharge in the news daily, sum the total, the number declare at the end of the day will be double of what we have early read when the press briefing is done at 12am.

I am sure that the virus is in Nigeria, but it is not spreading as in the western countries. The people that have the virus in this country may not be up to 200. Some of them have died, while others have recovered, few are yet to recover.

NCDC does not deem it pertinent to show pictures of the patient while receiving treatment as it is done in western countries. Some African countries like South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, dominated by white may have a true reflection of what they are declaring. But Nigeria, I swear, something is amiss.

Since they started using Chinese equipment, the so called cases have been increasing. This is a mere speculation anyway. But I am sure, like High Chief Dikpesi has recently claimed, that the cases we are having in Nigeria are malaria cases. The man said sarcastically that he couldn’t differentiate between covid19 and malaria as he was treated with malaria drugs, for the virus which is believed not to have an antidote.

The NCDC came out later with a flimsy defence that patients were being warned not to divulge what they are being treated with to avoid self medication. Of there is a treatment, why the fear?

The routine daily compulsory test recently enforced by Lagos government through establishment of proximate testing centres is in negation with the initial directive of NCDC. The body had earlier said that only people with symptoms had to be tested.

Just like the Kogi State governor said, all these sicknesses had been with us since time immemorial. The news on covid 19 is a mere marketing, which had caused influx of panic into Nigeria. The state does not have a single case because the government has not instilled fear in the mindset of the people who may have Cough, malaria, nasal congestion among other layed symptoms of covid 19. The people were able to go to the hospital and treat their ailments without fear. Allow NCDC to conduct test in Kogi and Cross River today. They will discover cases. This is an evidence that there is a manipulative intention, or faulty equipment, perchance a gross incompetence.

Even the UNITED STATE president, Donald Trump has declared his avarice for testing. I think he is smelling rats too.

Some African countries have decided to chase out World Health Organisation from their countries, based on perceived insincerity in the body’s toy with covid 19 cases in the countries.

Whether we like it or not, there is world politics in the nascent pandemic. I wonder how BILL GATES suddenly turned to medical officer, considering his recent participations in the effort to curtail the hullabaloo. He said recently that he informed Donald Trump when he came to power that there would be an outbreak. How did he know?

Back home. We have a president that is a mere figure head. He is not learned. He only follows the reports of the PTF, not even considering if their is a foul play. Does he even know what public opinion is? We have leaders that do not use public opinion as instruments to deductive reasoning

I am an advocate of obedience to rules; I follow expert advice especially on health matter. I also reason using all available premises. I am not oblivion of the presence of the pandemic in our midst, but I am pretty sure that in this country, it has been handled with incompetence, lies and ambiguity. The persistent coverages of empty beds and outside views of the isolation centres are evidences that there is fib in the cases declared daily.

I believe the press men are being denied their civic responsibilities here. I am pretty sure that my colleagues in the press would have demanded for human element coverage. I am sure that they have been gagged.

If the PTF and NCDC want us to believe the news they are relaying to the world, using our press men, they should be more statistical and incidentally visual. We are tired of PEOPLE WITHOUT PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY.

Sunday Olawuni is a seasoned journalist and educationalist, he writes from Lagos