COVID-19 In Delta: We Are The Solution

By Efe Duku

Many of our political and traditional leaders, senior citizens, professionals, and activists have by responsible and patriotic social media and community advocacy and engagements been doing well to increase awareness on the novel #COVID19 disease.

By natural rule of self-preservation, these efforts were designed in part to avoid the importation of the deadly virus into our Delta State. Nevertheless, it came yesterday. That is our reality today, and we have to face it head-on.

At this stage, endless complaining and blame games will not help us. We must set aside whatever divides us and unite to defeat the disease in our State. This is surely not a time for politics. Human health and lives are at risk, and we must pull together to overcome #COVID19 in our State.

Very importantly, pray intensely for the index case (the patient) and his/her contacts. Let us ask God Almighty to mercifully intervene to heal/cleanse them miraculously. James 5:16 says “… pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

We do not necessarily need the identities of the positive case and his/her contacts to pray for them. And, we should not see it as a shame upon them. Contracting #COVID19 is not a sin for which one should be ashamed. The statistics are that a great majority of the carriers of the virus got it by no fault of theirs. This alone is enough to spark our sense of empathy instead of venom to condemn them. Let us fear God in this regard.

Also, to help ourselves and support the State Government, stay at home unless you are providing an essential service which is recognized as an exception under the regulations put in place by the Government. Unnecessary arguments will not change the science-based reality of the killer disease, and that it is now in our midst. Don’t dare to use ‘I am a big man’ to breach protocols, as that will be a very foolish way to put yourself and others in harm’s way.

Being stone-hearted may lead us into avoidable problems with the authorities. No responsible government sits idly to watch people undermine its lawful authority. Those who choose to breach the State Government’s stay-at-home directive will surely not be rewarded with ice creams, ‘Shawarmas’ or cans of Heineken. There are indications that the Government is ready and willing to try and convict them. This is avoidable if we stay at home.

The horrifying figures of human deaths in China, Europe, and the United States of America started from one (1). We cannot, therefore, assume that ours is small, inconsequential or will just vanish. The only way not to be where these nations are/were is to fully support the Government by observing all the emergency health protocols now in place to combat the pandemic.

On the part of Government, this is a time to attend very well to hunger in the land. It is a reality that some of our people are very hungry. Just get them food. It is helpful for individual Deltans to help within their means but that cannot supplant the critical role of government at the grassroots at this time. The truth is that a very hungry stomach that is capable of provoking a man’s death will hardly comply with repeated admonitions not to take steps to feed. Anyhow, such a person will take steps to survive. To tame such ‘survival-at-all-cost’ instinct, the Delta State Government is seriously advised to take every responsible step to provide food for our vulnerable citizens. No excuses, please.

May the good Lord help our State and all our people from this affliction in Jesus name.

Prince Duku is a Special Adviser (Legislative & Plenary Matters) to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

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