Fight Against COVID-19: The Federal Government must leave the Political Route
By Simeon Nwakaudu
The Non-Existent All Progressives Congress ( APC) in Rivers State believes that it can its way into reckoning is to aimlessly criticise Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. They also imagine that they can eke out acceptance if they sabotage the development of Rivers State by derailing the fight against the spread of coronavirus.
Having failed repeatedly in their struggle to undermine Governor Wike, the remnants of Rivers APC have seen the fight to check the spread of coronavirus as their only way to maintain visibility.

Therefore, any action taken by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to protect Rivers people from coronavirus is seen as an excuse for Rivers APC members to criticise the administration and attempt to sabotage the entire State.
From the very beginning, Governor Wike led the way in instituting precautionary measures to check the spread of coronavirus. The proactive measures adopted by Governor Wike have been helpful.
Governor Wike was the first Governor to close the borders. When this action was taken, APC leaders condemned the Governor. They even paid mercenaries to write nasty articles calling the Governor names. When other states emulated the Rivers State Governor, they dropped this condemnation and fished for another.

Several steps have been taken by some unscrupulous persons to sabotage the precautionary measures in place to protect Rivers people. Governor Wike is working round the clock because nobody expects any form of assistance from any quarters.
For days, Carveton Helicopters worked with some groups to make Rivers State vulnerable. In a state broadcast, Governor Wike drew their attention to this ugly trend, but they ignored it. Perhaps because the Minister of Aviation was beating the drums for them. They acted as if they are above the law.

On April 5, 2020, Governor Wike in a State Broadcast declared: "Every day, we are inundated with letters from the Federal Government to allow oil companies to fly in expatriates to drill Oil. Then we ask, what is the status of those coming from Lagos? Nobody has told us their status as regards coronavirus.
"If they come to come Rivers without us knowing their status, what will be implication assuming they have the virus."

Despite the warnings, On 7th April, 2020 Carveton Helicopters conveyed passengers into Port Harcourt and arrogantly refused to subject them to prescribed tests . That action further jeopardised the state's scheme to protect the people from coronavirus.
The pilots and the said passengers were promptly arrested. They were arraigned before courts of competent jurisdiction and they are to face trial.

They weren't arrested for flying a helicopter. They were arrested for refusing to cooperate with state health authorities by complying with regulations on the testing of anyone coming into the state for essential duties. Same way other states have arrested different persons who violate regulations at this time.
Part of the regulations signed by the Rivers State Governor, which the pilots and Carveton Helicopters contravened read: "These Regulations apply where the Governor declares, that the incidence
or transmission of Coronavirus or any other infectious disease constitutes
a serious and imminent threat to public health, and that the incidence or
transmission of Coronavirus or any infectious disease is at such a point
that the measures outlined in these Regulations may reasonably be
considered as an effective means of preventing the further, significant
transmission of Coronavirus or any infectious disease."

[b]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."
Governor Wike was the very first to sign this order. Other states including the Presidency copied from Rivers State.[/b]
The Minister of Aviation is not conversant with the seriousness of the issues involved. We are talking about public safety. Nothing could be more important than that. The lives of over 6million Rivers people are at stake with his CARELESS issuance of permits premised on the arrogance of telling Carveton Helicopters not to subject themselves to the health protocols on ground for the protection of Rivers people.
In Rivers State, everyone understands that the law must to be respected. The Governor knows the law and respects the rule of law. He will never obstruct the process, but insists that Federal Agencies respect their boundaries. After issuing landing permit, will the workers work inside the plane or helicopter? That is where the respect for the COVID-19 regulations in the state comes to play. You must subject the pilots and passengers to test. Thereafter, they proceed to carry out their essential duties. This particular area is way off the Minister of Aviation's jurisdiction.
Does the Minister of Aviation run Isolation/
Treatment Centres in Rivers State? Is there any record that the Minister of Aviation have ever taken measures to protect Rivers people from coronavirus?
Aside the deliberate plot to make Rivers State vulnerable to coronavirus, what positive contribution has the Federal Government made to protect the state?
Governor Wike said: " "It is quite unfortunate that the containment of coronavirus has been politicized by the Federal Government. While Lagos State received a grant of N10billion as a commercial hub, Rivers State as the nation’s oil and gas hub that produces a greater percentage of the nation’s wealth has not received any support from the Federal Government.
"One wonders why Federal Government should single out a state out of 36 States to give support. Does it mean that support will come when a State has a record of over 50 infected persons before it gets support. No state should be seen as more important than any other state. This is a Federal Republic. No state is superior to others."
Rivers State is not the first State to arrest violators of coronavirus regulations. Only a few days ago Lagos State arrested and convicted Nollywood Star, Funke Akindele and her husband. The Minister of Culture and Tourism did not defend her. Lagos also arrested different classes of offenders. No Federal Agency or professional organization defended the offenders.
See the following links:
http://saharareporters.com/2020/04/08/
coronavirus-lagos-government-quarantines-67-iv
ory-coast-returnees
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/
ssouth-west/386797-lockdown-lagos-police-im
pounds-over-600-vehicles-arrests-78.html
https://www.channelstv.com/2020/04/08/
breaking-27-quarantined-in-niger-state-over-co
vid-19/
In Abuja, the FCT COVID-19 Enforcement Team arrested 17 Turkish Professionals for violating the coronavirus regulations on Wednesday. The Minister of Foreign Affairs did not defend them.
Kaduna State Government has arrested Christian and Muslim Clerics for violating the coronavirus regulations, nobody from the Federal Government rose to the defence of the offenders.
See:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/04/
lockdown-kaduna-drags-clergy-men-to-court-for-
holding-service/
This brings me to the threat issued by an association of pilots. Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari were not arrested with 10 others because they are pilots. They committed an offence. The Rule of law will be upheld. Nobody is above the law because of his/her profession. Most importantly, the lives of Rivers people remain paramount.
Governor Wike captures this point:
"The highly insensitive and provocative actions of Calverton Helicopters took place in the midst of credible intelligence reports about plans by our enemies to traffic carriers of the dreaded Coronavirus into the State.
"Their morbid intention is to create panic by pushing up the infection rate and rubbish the robust measures we have since put in place to cut off the spread of the virus and keep our State and our citizens safe and secure from the ravaging pandemic."
An Adviser to Governor Wike, Mr Erastus Awortu captured the folly of the Minister of Aviation thus: "It does not matter to the FG if Rivers lives are wiped out by the virus so long as they can take oil to service other lands."
Once it comes to Rivers State, the Federal Government sees money. It cannot see safety of lives. It cannot see security. It cannot see projects and it cannot see the welfare of Rivers people .
The misconduct of the Minister of Aviation is unfortunate. We saw this character trait in the Former General Officer Commanding 6 Division and the Former Rivers State SARS Commander. Sirika'a outburst to me is a confirmation of the ulterior motive behind the recklessness of Carveton..
The Federal Government and her officials should retrace their steps and work with the Rivers State Government to fight the spread of coronavirus. The fight against coronavirus is not an election. There are no institutions to manipulate results. That is why the Federal Government must abandon this ugly political strategy.
I know that the Federal Government will invest huge sums in misinformation and propaganda on this issue as they have always done, but the fundamental issue remains, why the eagerness to jeopardise the safety of Rivers people by compromising the health defence network of the state?
When there were cases of insecurity in Rivers State, the APC Federal Government offered no support to the Rivers State Government. Governor Wike had to personally lead the way to pull Rivers State out of the woods.
Hadi Sirika can blatantly talk trash because he is playing politics. Otherwise, in Kaduna, the State Government has declared that any person passing through the state will be quarantined for 14days. This is irrespective of the profession of the person. Coronavirus is no respecter of professions.
See:
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-sp
end-14-days-in-isolation-facility/
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.
But his Imperial Majesty, Hadi Sirika, the Almighty 'Elected' Minister of Aviation, wants to jeopardise the health of Rivers people because he issued a permit on the EXCLUSIVE LIST.
If there is any person who is ignorant, it is Chairman of EXCLUSIVE LIST. I want to reiterate. The pilots of Carveton Helicopters were arrested because they refused to respect the health regulations outlined in the Executive Order signed by Governor Wike. They Executed the tenets of Sirika'a permit by landing in Rivers State, but refused to obey the extant regulations in place to protect Rivers people.
I will still refer to Governor Wike's State Broadcast of March 30, 2020.
He said: "Let me reiterate that this government will continue to do what is right no matter who is involved. As you are all aware, no conventional war has grounded global life and economy like coronavirus has done.
"Everybody is affected. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to defeat coronavirus. I want to sincerely express my heartfelt gratitude to our health professionals on the frontline of this fight. Let me also thank all the security agencies, individuals and organisations who are collaborating with us to make Rivers State safe. "
No well meaning Nigerian should take Sirika seriously. The matter at stake is beyond the touting of LISTS. We are talking of the safety of Rivers people. Not who is on what list. Sirika serves a Government that lacks the moral ground to discuss Rivers State. By his irrational outburst, Sirika has emphasised the deadly conspiracy against Rivers people.
As usual, Rivers people are prepared to defend themselves. If they rose to defend their mandate during the 2019 elections against soldiers and the FSARS, then Sirika and those who sent him to display irresponsible ignorance should understand that Rivers people will defend themselves at this crucial moment. It is a matter of life and death.
Only yesterday, the APC Federal Government took the necessary precautionary measure of placing the visiting Chinese Doctors on quarantine for 14days. These Chinese Doctors were invited by the Federal Government, but they took action to protect the Abuja based community. But they want Rivers State Government to be careless.
See:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaP6J8G9_VU
https://gwg.ng/2020/04/08/chinese-doctors-
arrive-go-into-quarantine/