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By Achinike William-Wobodo
As the Government of Rivers State had announced, residents woke up in morning of Saturday 28th March 2020 to a vigorous enforcement of the closure of all markets in the State. At first, I was struggling to come to terms with the reasoning of the Governor for announcing the indefinite closure of all markets in Rivers State (till further notice), so soon after he had proclaimed a complete lockdown of the State. However, after listening to the Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim on a Saturday Radio Programme (View Point) at 93.7FM in Port Harcourt, I come to the conclusion that the Governor and His Medical Team have no strategy in place to tackle the pandemic. They are merely reacting to every impulsive advice from Tom, Dick and Harry, without putting the advice to critical and analytical tests.
The subsequent decision of the State Government to close down all markets in the State was baseless. It was a decision reached purely in panic, and arising from lack of leadership, lack of basic framework and preparedness to confront the challenge. The Government’s actions so far are diversionary and are intended to cover up the Governor’s failure to appreciate the magnitude of problem at hand and the ability to give direction to the problem.
The Governor during the broadcast in which he announced the Executive Lockdown Order painted a picture of near certainty: that Covid-19 was not in Rivers State, thanks to the efforts of some security agents that fished out a lady who tried to smuggle herself (and the disease) into the State, according to him. This being the case, and with the complete lockdown of the State (which by the way I had commended in another piece), what then was the rational for closing down all markets in the State?
So far, Rivers State has no established case of Covid-19. On the other hand, Lagos State has more population than Rivers State, with established root of over fifty percent (50%) of the Covid-19 cases in the Country and ninety-five percent (95%) of all confirmed cases currently residual in Lagos where they are receiving treatment. Curiously, Lagos is yet to close down markets. Whilst the Governor of Lagos was addressing his State a few days back, he said the numbers that would warrant the decision to close down the markets were not there yet. If at that, the State was already pondering on how to mitigate the pains of residents, by creating makeshift markets around the State.
The opposite is the case with Rivers State. The decision of the Government to close down markets was informed more by fear and the desire to cover up failure, insensitive and irresponsibility on the part of Rivers State Government than it was of strategy. The times are critical and every minute counts. There is no time to waste playing ostrich or pondering if one would be reprimanded or shamed for “not-knowing” the right actions to take.
Should that be the case, I remind the Governor that Rivers State has so many brilliant Administrators and Medical Services Managers, even within the private sector, that could be brought on board in the campaign against Covid-19 in Rivers State. If the Governor thinks otherwise also, he may opt for Lagos, to understudy how and what Lagos State is doing differently in addressing the situation instead of aggravating anxiety in the State by taking thoughtless decisions and actions.
Dear Governor Wike, it is time to seek better counsel and to reassure the residents of the Government’s commitment to address their concerns. Residents are making the necessary sacrifices (staying at home, some without salaries or means of livelihood), believing that the Government is preparing for when or should the disease breakout in the State. Therefore, the State Government must go beyond mere rhetorics and establishment of ill-empowered Task Force to walk-the-talk. Government should organize the markets, come up with action plans that would minimize human contacts and allow the residents shop for food and enable those who depend on daily incomes from the markets to eke out a living for themselves.
Meanwhile, we shall continue to advise and encourage residents to STAY SAFE by STAYING at HOME, except when going out becomes unavoidable, i.e to shop for food or drugs and those providing essential services.
We urge Rivers State Government to rise up to the occasion. Long live Rivers State
Achinike William-Wobodo
Lawyer & Public Policy Analyst
Writing from Port Harcourt.