Six months ago, 27/2/20, the global celebrity, Oga-Coro, made a grand entry into Nigeria. On 27/8/20, the NNDC as it has been doing before, the state-by state-statistics. I have looked at the figures with the eyes of an elder. I have also undertaken an econometrics analysis, aided by the SPSS, version 26. And one thing is obvious: Oga-Coro has treated our cherished Federal Character, as it is being practiced in this centralised and islamised federation, with utter disdain. This is my focus today but, before then, let’s review some recent Coro and non-Coro developments.
One major non-Coro development in recent times is the outcome of the simmering internecine power struggle at UNILAG, where the elephants are doing their own things at the expense of the grass, where they went to the extent of eating their own flesh and drinking their own blood (Isaiah 49:26). I shall not interrogate the matter here. However, something unusual has happened. The Federal Government disbanded the combatants, appointed an acting VC, appointed an acting Chairman of Council and swore in a visitation panel, all within a jiffy. This government has never been this decisive and this fast. The only time the government was this fast was when it criminalised and proscribed IPOB or whenever our soldiers attacked IPOBians singing songs and waving flags. As we await the outcome of these ‘fast-fast’ interventions, I state without equivocation that this decisiveness is worthy and indeed commendable.
Oga-Coro has treated our cherished Federal Character, as it is being practiced in this centralised and islamised federation, with utter disdain
Sometimes ago, one laggard in your village school came third from behind in an exam and when his parents wanted to roast him for his woeful performance, the unrepentant young man said: after all, I did better than 2 others. The other day, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that our GDP growth for Q2’20 was -6 percent. Oga-Coro is surely the chief culprit though we were already by the fireside before the onset of harmattan. But rather than heap all the blames on Coro, make more promises and move on with life, the Government decided to behave like the boy who failed his exams; it started beating its chest and comparing its performance with those of US (-33 percent), UK (-20 percent), France (- 14 percent), Germany (-10 percent), Italy (-12.4 per cent), Canada (-12 per cent), Israel (-29 per cent). And I ask, why not compare with those countries in all realms: poverty, unemployment, inflation, governance standards and transparency, standard of leaving and cluelessness index? We can also compare budget per capita where we stand at about $150 per capita with South Africa at $2,000, Algeria $1700, Morocco, and Cameron,$300! Comparison is never a good way out and if you want to compare sincerely, then, do so comprehensively. I have heard about the formation of New NBA (just like the nPDP?) and … no comments for now. Cairo Ojougbo has also declared that if he released the list of NDDC looters, Nigeria will break. So what is holding him? At least, the country will break without any bloodshed. I, however, take exception to his assertion that the FG shared N30,000 to EVERYBODY as a Coro palliative. I did NOT receive a dime and I have not seen those who received.
And then, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has apologetically announced his resignation for health reasons, saying he did not want his illness to get in the way of effective leadership and decision making. He had resigned in 2007 for the same reason. Nearer home, 82-year-old Guinea’s President, Alpha Conde has humbly accepted to run for a third term, as nominated by his party, Rally of the Guinean People (RPG). You want my comments? Different strokes for different folks and it will be a waste of efforts, in Nigeria where ‘they’ will think that the Japanese fellow is crazy while adopting the Guinean President as role model! Other important developments are: that our refineries which were idle for 12 months had incurred expenses of N142bn.. just for being idle and that the ‘government pikins’ on NDDC scholarship have been ‘settled’, months after some NDDC officials were paid hundreds of millions to go and see how they were faring. The most newsworthy news is the decision of Zamfara State Government to introduce the death penalty for reckless driving! And please, do not forget to collect the latest palliative and Christmas gift in advance from our caring government: higher NEPA tariffs (yes; it is still NEPA as nothing has changed) starting from the ember months (1/9/20).
On the Coro-front, I am glad that Abayomi can now continue with his good works unhindered as he has escaped from Coro captivity. The numbers are dropping in Nigeria (138 on 30/8/20) and we have an enviable fatality rate of 1.8 percent. This is happening as India set a world record of the highest single-day spike at 78,761 just as it began easing restrictions to help the economy( 30/8/20) that was the 4th consecutive day India recorded more than 75000 infections. However, the PTF warns that the declining figure was due to lower testing, and even if the fatality rate is 0.001, you will only know what it feels like when you have lost someone dear to you. The PTF has also cautioned states about the hasty reopening of schools, just as ASUU (still in the trenches) has warned it would be disastrous for public schools to resume now.
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However, a faceless group of renegades masquerading as Congress of University Academics (CUA) had announced that they were ready to resume. Lagos has however reopened its schools and LASU has announced that students would return in batches just as schools in Osun and Delta States are resuming on 21/9/20. Probably they will be operating with CUA members. Meanwhile, here is an interesting news: The University of Alabama has recorded 566 cases of Coro just six days after it reopened the school for activities in August 2020!!!
International flights are to resuming this week (5/9/20) four days after our frenemy, Ghana, had opened its skies (1/9/20). That is good; our big men who make their money in Nigeria but live abroad are now celebrating but I have not heard any exciting offers from our Airlines. This is what I mean: Emirates is offering free COVID-19 insurance to all of its passengers, which covers medical expenses, quarantine costs, and repatriation if you miss your flight home. It also covers the cost of repatriating your body and your funeral if you die from the virus. This is an authentic assurance to its passengers. Furthermore, as we are awaiting September 5, let’s note these developments: Last week, Coro-enforcers stormed a plane minutes before take-off from London Stansted and dragged off a Coro-patient who had bolted from quarantine. IndiGo Air quarantined all crew for 14 days after a passenger on Chennai-Coimbatore flight teste Coro-positive. I hope we have factored in all these, including our irresponsible elite who are too big to obey the simple protocols.
Meanwhile, the ferocious global scramble for vaccines continues as Canada, with a population of 38m has ordered for 76m doses of Novavax Coro vaccines just as the US, which supported the firm’s research efforts with $1.6bn has cornered the first 100m doses. Russia also starts the distribution of its own vaccines this month. How does WHO enforce its vaccine equity policy and what is our fate? If we cannot pay hazard allowances, cannot afford PPEs and have challenges conducting tests, how do we join the scramble for vaccines? Anyway, as we would always say, God de! There are 173 candidate vaccines as at August at various stages of trials. And as that is going on, anti-Coro groups stormed the German Parliament on Saturday, 29/8/20 in protest against Coro protocols just as anti-restriction protest is rocking Sydney( Australia) while their friends in Nigeria, youths of Nassarawa state, are forcing Coro-compliant residents to REMOVE their masks! Curious, isn’t it?
Now, we come to Oga- Coro’s defiance of our cherished and inviolable Federal Character Policy (FCP). We know what the FCP is and how it operates. It is a principle that ensures that Emeka, who lives in Kebbi State and who scored 250marks is not admitted into so-called Unity Schools while Umaru, his classmate who scores 5 marks is admitted. When applied in breach, it ensures that appointments (especially security and juicy ones), projects and programmes are concentrated in the North, especially the Muslim north.
Even when states have the option, the northern states still “chose” the highest of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, out of school children and other related socio-economic indicators. Now as at 27/8/20, we had 53317 confirmed cases. But contrary to FCP and practices, the North had only 11270 of this figure; a mere 21 percent! For the first time, Kano (1722 cases) allowed Lagos (18056) to take the limelight without any protest. And as in every other matter, the South East was marginalised with only 3605 cases!
Even on 30/8/20 when we had a suspiciously low figure (138), when the North decided to reassert its “superiority”, it was championed by Plateau, which ‘scored’ 55(40 percent); not Kano or even Kastina, which has recently taken over all juicy federal projects, including a free $500m Transport University. Free? Yes; gifted by our kind-hearted Chinese friends! This is unacceptable! And as a social crusader and champion of regional equity and balance, I am giving the Federal Character Commission 14 days to investigate this brazen, disdainful treatment of our dearly beloved FCP by Oga Coro. If not…if not, I will do what I did in 1978! One of us in the NASS, most probably Senator Abaribe, should follow up by moving a motion for the continuous marginalisation of South East.
Meanwhile, talking seriously, I do not understand the low figures from the North. Is it that they have suddenly become more hygienic, more medically aware, or taking more preventive measures? Or is it that they have ‘fashied’ ( abandoned) the sample collection and testing altogether? What exactly is happening? I need an answer from the ‘oyibo’ at NDDC.
