By Tony Marinho
Happy Easter2020: Hopefully it went well even though it was different and many were broke in pocket but not spirit. It must have been strange to view the world and witness several billions of human beings silently using traditional electronic and social media as they bowed and knelt in front of televisions, radios and cell phones communicated, if they had electricity or battery power, with their chosen Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, with ringing Resurrection Halleluiahs as did many worshipping other religions.
What has Covid-19 not done to the human race? It has interacted and degraded every aspect of human life. But did you listen to the stock market trader who said some have been praying for this pandemic because it is a great opportunity to make money? Stock markets like commercial markets should have been closed down and stock speculation banned and not admired. Shamefully many such stock and futures betting traders will get COVID-19 caused ‘BANK BONUSES’ in 2020. But no bonus for saving lives or dying as medical and other staff killed in action against COVID-19 on the virus warfront. Coffins have no colour and are colour-blind to contents-corpses. In a capitalistic world, cash made even from coffins for pandemic deaths is evergreen and rewardable with bonuses. We learnt nothing from the US stock market crash due to the housing loan scam debacle.
COVID-19 records deaths approaching 120,000, infections 2,000,000 and around 350 cases and approaching 15 deaths in Nigeria. Costs are unquantifiable but in $10trillions+. In Nigeria, we expect a deeper cut in petrol and also diesel prices. With perhaps a N500billion federal fund added to the already huge individual and corporate support, how do we avoid a repeat of our traditional ‘Epidemic Corruption’ in Nigeria? Shall we call it ‘COVID-19 Corruption’?
In Nigeria, transport like the cramped 16-passenger danfo or the spittle from the speeding okada rider talking backwards actually entering the passenger’s mouth will spread the virus. Reusable masks must cover both the mouth and the nose, not to be decoration around the throat or neck. Make your own from scarfs. Never go out without a facemask. The life you save may be your own.
It is worth repeating that infected hands are never cut off but always recycled – washed in soap and water, rinsed in methylated spirit. Medical professionals must recycle mask, plastic apron and gloves.
Though frequent hand washing and social distancing are essential, a lockdown is now known to cause several societal effects. There are prison riots, serious civil unrest, armed robbery and strangely even a fall in gang warfare. In some countries, dangerous murderous drug-running gangs are now jointly distributing palliatives to the communities they plagued. Police in the area, knowledgeable in the viciously violent history of the gangs, are cautious and not particularly hopeful that the usual intergang warfare that turned into ‘intergang welfare’ and goodwill will outlast the virus. Nigeria does not usually follow any established plan and by some miracle there may be ‘Peace On Earth And Goodwill Towards All Men, Women And Children’ as a result of COVID-19. Too many pockets and stomachs and days are empty. Unfortunately, even the dustbins are hungry.
While the politicians are not directly responsible for Covid-19, though some arrogantly contributed to its spread, they are collectively as a body directly responsible for our poor health service. When comparing their budgetary approvals, and the fat Salaries and Perks SAPping the country dry, to salaries of professionals, politicians have behaved badly. They have a malignant history of foreign medical tourism, all expenses paid by the rest of us. Now they must be treated in rubbish hospitals they denied an upgrade as they can no longer travel. No one is sorry for them as they have nowhere to run for their medical needs. They flaunt undeserved titles of Excellency, Distinguished and Honourable and recently purchased 2020 series NASS utility vehicles. For years, they have waved a red flag before a ‘hangry’, ‘hungry and angry’ bull -the citizens who have so far contented themselves with fighting for and feeding on the droppings by political horses at elections and on visits to their ‘country homes’.
What else needs to be done to create a social crisis? The crude scattering of over-labelled and highly publicised but often ‘petty or mini-palliatives’ by our over-bloated politicians is already backfiring and being rejected in many communities. Ask yourself in your neighbourhood, ask your friends, and report if the government-backed financial and food support scheme is working. Also examine the palliative efforts of businesses and NGOs in your area. Only such ‘SITREP’ observations will give an early warning about any coming social unrest problems to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order.
The government must use many more known artistes and musicians as ‘anti-covid-19’ health and anti-violence communication ambassadors to publicise the anti-Covid-19 strategies and social packets. This may allay the fears and violent tendencies of the suffering people. Even the hungry sometimes smile between the frequent wincing from the hunger pangs of stomach ache. But the smile is temporary and not relief. Every government must bring new ‘honest male and female’ faces and voices with ‘reliable hands’ faces and voices much closer to the people on daily TV and radio updates discussing where the relief is distributed on a daily basis and get the people’s voices heard and faces seen on TV and radio.
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