By Joshua Mobi Ehud
There’s no denying the fact that covid-19 is real. The scary footages of death and suffering from across the globe that grace our screens every single day suffice proofs that the disease is not some mythical conjucturings.
That the pandemic has hit the shores of Nigeria is also true. We have evidences; the death of Abba Kyari and many others point to the fact that the virus has made a landing in the country.
And that the illness is spreading across the country is also very true. Today, most northern states that seemed far removed (physically) from Nigeria’s ground zero are recording large numbers of cases on daily basis. For instance our dear state. Gombe is not doing badly on the NCDC Covid-19 log.
Sure, Covid-19 is real. But beyond accepting that the disease is as real as the air we breathe, there is also an equally tangible feeling of despondency and apprehension that the pandemic is but a hoax. a cash cow of some sort by which some individuals enrich themselves at the expense of the people. For us in Gombe State for instance this apprehension and despondency are as potent and real as the existence of the virus itself. And this is attributable to the seeming lack of transparency in the manner the state Task Force is carrying out its responsibilities.
Remember the unfortunate incidents in two isolation centres in the state (Kwadon and Federal Teaching Hospital) where those isolated for testing positive for the virus not only prostested their abandonment and lack of care by government but also questioned the veracity of their Covid-19 status? Those incidents did not only give the state a bad review in both local and international press but also entrenched the feeling of despondency amongst the populace about the dreaded disease. And just as the dusts from those protests are about to settle, the state machinery on the pandemic decided to kick up another controversy.
The controversy involves the person of His Royal Majesty, the Mai of Tangale Dr Abdu Buba Maisheru II, 15th Mai Tangle whom it was alleged tested positive for the virus in the first instance but returned negative when a retest was conducted.
Looking at the timeline of the events and juxtaposing it with the position of the Gombe state Covid-19 Task Force one is left with no option but to believe that there were a lot of shady dealings that transpired. For how could a man who was taken into isolation on May 15 for testing positive for the Virus and subsequently discharged on May 17, 2 days after, be said to have spent 12 days in isolation?
Even if we assume that the Mai had decided to go into self-isolation on May 11 after he voluntarily acceded to have his (first) sample taken for testing, the numbers will still not add up to 12 days. Hence the position of the State Covid-19 Task Force that His Royal Majesty recovered after “12” days in isolation is not only untenable but also calls to question the already dentend integrity of state Task Force.
Let me therefore conclude by saying that there’s an urgent need for the state government and the state. Covid-19 Task Force to take stringent measures to ensure that its guidelines and protocols for testing and caring for confirmed cases are strictly adhered to. There is no doubt allowing such controversies as had played out in recent times will not only weaken people’s perception of the pandemic but also jeopardise the efforts of government at containing the spread of the virus. If this happens the cost and consequences can be best left to imagination.
Finally, I pray earnestly that the state succeeds in its endeavor to bring a halt to the growing menance of this unseen enemy. And for this to happen the people must not be given demoralizing signals that will make them despondent towards taking personal responsibilities to help curtailing the spread of the virus. At this critical time, we cannot afford to be complacent.
God Bless The Kingdom of Tangale, Gombe state and Nigeria.
Joshua Mobi Ehud writes from Gombe State, Nigeria.
