Expected Missives Against The Safety Of Rivers People

By Simeon Nwakaudu

This Morning, (April 10, 2020) The Guardian and Thisday Newspapers published Editorials heaping insults on the person of the Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for standing up in defence of Rivers people over credible intelligence of plans to escalate the prevalence of coronavirus in parts of the state.

Many more of these editorials are expected since the Federal Government has already paid heavily for anti-Wike and anti-Rivers reportage of recent events.  It is shameful that these media outlets have sold their platforms to anti-people businessmen and officials.

In my piece: “Fight Against  COVID-19: The Federal Government must leave the Political Route” on 9th April, 2020, I predicted that the Federal Government would engage the services of the mainstream media to promote  falsehood and further attempt to endanger the lives of Rivers people.

Thisday’s Editorial titled: “Wike, Carveton and Matters Arising” and The Guardian’s Editorial titled: “Unfortunate Detention of Pilots in Rivers ” of April 10, 2020 are the worst form of editorial marketing and journalistic recklessness of recent times.

Both editorials focused on the statements of Carveton,  the Minister of Aviation and APC Mercenary Writers without any regard for the facts of the matter and issues of the SAFETY of Rivers people.  Once the payment was made,  the newspapers jumped into the political arena and deliberately  refused to investigate  the issues to come up with a pro-people position.

Both editorials like the Minister of Aviation,  erroneously discussed who is on what list and who should exercise what powers. Before Governor Wike moved to defend Rivers people,  he issued repeated warnings to Carveton Helicopters about flying in suspected cases of coronavirus into Rivers State without observing the health protocols initiated to protect Rivers people.

In their haste to justify their pay, Thisday and The Guardian stripped the Rivers State Government of all semblance of authority.  To these two Newspapers,  the Rivers State Governor is a lame-duck  once the EXCLUSIVE LIST  is mentioned.  He has no role to play once the Federal Government comes to the scene. They disregarded the circumstances surrounding the action and took sides against Rivers people.

On April 5, in a State Broadcast,  Governor Wike urged the Federal Government To Prevail on Carveton to Act Responsibly.

With credible intelligence on the deliberate transportation of suspected cases of coronavirus into Rivers State by Carveton Helicopters  without subjecting such cases to tests by Rivers health professionals,  Governor Wike opened different lines of communication with the Federal Authorities.  But  they ignored all entreaties.  When it became clear that there were sinister plots to cripple Rivers State with an escalation of coronavirus,  Governor Wike stated his position in a State Broadcast.

He declared: “The Federal Government should prevail on its agencies that connive with Aero Contractors and Caverton Helicopters to fly in workers on essential services to the state to ensure that the health status of these individuals as it relates to COVID-19 is ascertained.  “

The Rivers State Government took action on 7th April 2020, following Carveton’s continued disrespect for the laws of Rivers State and their disregard for Rivers people.  This was two days after Governor Wike drew the attention of the entire world to this conspiracy.

There is no record of any editorial written by either Thisday or The Guardian to urge the Federal Government to prevail on Carveton Helicopters to respect the health protocols set up to protect Rivers people from the deadly coronavirus.

For the umpteenth time, let me emphasise that the Rivers State Government did not challenge the permit granted to the pilots to fly in persons on essential duties.  The State Government did not arrest the pilots for flying into the state.

They were arrested for DELIBERATELY ignoring  repeated requests  that they and their passengers flown in from Lagos are subjected to tests by Rivers State health professionals to ascertain their coronavirus status.  This is because these pilots and  passengers use hotels, roads, supermarkets, restaurants  and petrol stations  across Rivers State.  They interact with Rivers people,  thus making the state vulnerable.

Even the interaction between pilots of Carveton who fly in from a coronavirus impacted state and their ground staff in Port Harcourt poses danger to the entire state.

It is embarrassing that Thisday and The Guardian would easily join Carveton and the Federal Government to jeopardise the health of Rivers people,  just because they want to emphasise their superiority and promote the sanctity of the EXCLUSIVE LIST.

The defence by Thisday, The Guardian and the Minister of Aviation is based solely on who grants permits, who controls the airspace and a blackmail of the security agencies in Rivers State.

Recall that on March 30, 2020, Rivers State Government announced  waivers to different categories of persons in view of the directive of the State Government closing the borders.

They include: Medical and Pharmaceutical Personnel ,Food and Beverages , Essential Oil and Gas Staff, Petroleum Products and Media Workers and Newspaper Distributors. All these categories of staff  must identify themselves with valid identity cards.  These persons are to be subject themselves  to health checks by health professionals at the surveillance posts at the entry points and their contact addresses obtained for tracing in the case of any eventuality.

Medical and Pharmaceutical Personnel ,Food and Beverages , Essential Oil and Gas Staff, Petroleum Products and Media Workers and Newspaper Distributors subject themselves to the health protocols outlined in the state governor’s Executive Order at the entry points of the state. This is what is expected from pilots of Carveton Helicopters,  any other pilots and their passengers. 

To these people,  the Rivers State Government should play second fiddle in the face of deliberate actions to frustrate the protection of Rivers people.

The questions begging for answers are: What is Carveton Helicopters hiding by refusing to subject her pilots and passengers to established health protocols when they arrive Rivers State?

Why is the Federal Government only concerned about the money to be made in total disregard of measures to protect Rivers people from coronavirus?

Why has the Federal Government refused to prevail on Carveton Helicopters to supply Rivers State Health Authorities with relevant manifests and data of the over 300 expatriates and other field oil workers flown into Rivers State from Lagos?

It must be stated clearly,  that the protection of Rivers people cannot be compromised  on the altar of any profession. It cannot be compromised on the altar of monetary consideration as promoted by the Aviation Minister.

To these folks at the Federal Government,  Rivers State is only good because of the oil which is what they call NATIONAL INTEREST.  Aside oil, every person in Rivers State can die. Once it comes to issues pertaining to Rivers State,  they lose their sense of empathy and responsibility. 

For the avoidance of the doubt. This is an emergency situation with an emergency law in operation.

The Executive Order signed by Governor Wike  is titled: “EXECUTIVE ORDER RVSG – 01 2020 PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2, 4 AND 8  OF QUARANTINE ACT, CAP. Q2 LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA  2004 AND REGULATION 11 OF THE QUARANTINE (CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES) REGULATIONS,

2020.”

The Executive Order stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Sections 4 and 8 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and regulation 11 of Quarantine (Corona virus (COVID  19) and Infectious Diseases) Regulations, 2020 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON,GSSRS, Governor, Rivers State, hereby issue the following Orders:

It added:  “Flight operations at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, Airforce Base, Port Harcourt and Bonny Helipad are hereby suspended and no person landing at these airports shall be allowed to transit into the State.”

These Newspapers in support of the plot to infect Rivers people with coronavirus should hide their heads in shame.  Are they saying that Governor Wike should wait till millions of Rivers people are infected before he stands up to defend  them.

When the Federal Government shunned Rivers State during the days of security infractions,  these Newspapers joined to politicise the security challenges of the state.  Whenever there was an infraction,  the Newspapers led with the screaming headline: “RIVERS OF BLOOD.”  If the situation turns ugly and coronavirus escalates in Rivers State,  these newspapers will be the first to de-market Rivers State. 

That brings me to the blackmail of the Service Commanders by the Aviation Minister and the newspapers in their editorials. It is regrettable that these Newspapers will encourage Service Commanders to work against the interest of the State. The case of the Aviation Minister is understandable. They hate the peace and security of Rivers State.  But the newspapers have no reason to support plots to jeopardise the peace, security and health of Rivers people.

As I close, I cannot help but wonder why the EXCLUSIVE LIST of the Federal Government is only operational in Rivers State.  None of these papers have written editorials condemning other states defending their people from coronavirus.

In the face of inaction of the Federal Government in other states, State Governments have taken steps such as lockdown,  arrests and prosecutions. 

The following links point out actions in different states:

http://saharareporters.com/ 2020/04/08/coronavirus-lagos- government-quarantines-67- ivory-coast-returnees

https://www.premiumtimesng. com/regional/ssouth-west/ 386797-lockdown-lagos-police- impounds-over-600-vehicles- arrests-78.html

https://www.channelstv.com/ 2020/04/08/breaking-27- quarantined-in-niger-state- over-covid-19/

https://www.vanguardngr.com/ 2020/04/lockdown-kaduna-drags- clergy-men-to-court-for- holding-service/

https://www.premiumtimesng. com/coronavirus/386772- coronavirus-travellers- passing-through-kaduna-will- be-quarantined-14-days- official.html

https://www.channelstv.com/ 2020/04/08/covid-19-kaduna- quarantine-law-violators-to- spend-14-days-in-isolation- facility/

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v= zaP6J8G9_VU

https://gwg.ng/2020/04/08/ chinese-doctors-arrive-go- into-quarantine/

Where is the humanity of those who vetted the editorials sponsored by the Federal Government to belittle the lives of Rivers people and elevate the preference of EXCLUSIVE LIST  (OIL MONEY) ?

Thisday and The Guardian hail Lagos State for prosecuting Funke Akindele and husband for flouting coronavirus containtainment , but join the Federal Government’s  propaganda campaign when Rivers State moves to prosecute  those who contravene the State’s  containment laws.

Governor Wike has a word for them. In his Broadcast of 8th April,  2020, Governor Wike declared that the safety of Rivers people cannot be relegated on the altar of OIL MONEY as the Minister of Aviation,  THISDAY and The Guardian are promoting.

The Governor said: “Let me reiterate that for us, COVID 19 in Rivers State is a matter of life and death, and we will never succumb to any blackmail from any person, institution or authority in our determination to protect our citizens and our State from the spread of this deadly virus. Since we triggered the law on Calverton Helicopters, we have seen and read all sorts of hilarious and frivolous comments, particularly on social media, questioning the propriety of our actions against the carrier and its passengers

” At this time and under the present situation, nothing; I repeat; nothing, is more important to us than to safeguard the lives and wellbeing of our citizens no matter the cost, and we shall spare no efforts to achieve this singular most fundamental objective of our Government.”

Going forward,  Thisday and The Guardian should write on the failure of the Federal Government to make any investments  in the protection of 35 other states from coronavirus.  In Rivers State for example,  the Federal Government has done nothing to defend Rivers people from coronavirus,  other than to deliberately compromise the health defence system of the state.

As the Federal Government,  Thisday and The Guardian ride the tiger (EXCLUSIVE LIST), they must bear in mind that the politicisation of the fight to check the spread of coronavirus is a threat to the entire country.  Playing the OSTRICH confers no advantage on the Federal Government,  Carveton Helicopters and their hired propaganda merchants.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG