Friday Omosola
Is self-isolation the best for Nigeria at the moment? Let’s look at its effects on the citizens._
It's no longer news that COVID-19 is a pandemic which has sent many to early graves and left a large number of people in pitiable states across the globe.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Nigeria, the government has spoken about proactive measures taken to contain the pandemic on local and international television stations and newspapers. Sadly, the measures taken by the government aren't the solution to curbing the spread of this virus in Nigeria.
Of a truth, self-isolation and social-distancing in Nigeria can be best described as the act of using hard drugs to cure malaria. This is because, Nigerians live from hand to mouth, and most of us get our daily meals from our day-to-day activities (hustle).
The practice of social-distancing and self-isolation against COVID-19 was originated by the Europeans government, who figured it as the best measures they can take to prevent more citizens from contracting the virus. This must have followed one or two comprehensive analysis together.
On the other hand, China didn’t enforce social-distancing and self-isolation amongst its citizens. Rather, they had their citizens quarantined by force, because that is what can work for them at the moment.
Apparently, when coronavirus spread to Europe, the European government looked at their societies and came up with the decision of social-distancing and self-isolation, because they understood that is the approach what will help their citizens. Let me remind you that European countries don't have communities that are without water like Nigeria, they don’t have communities without hospitals, they don't live in face-me-I-face-you-houses, some of the homeless are housed in government reserved shelters.
European countries don't have slums like where most people live in Aba, Lagos, Calabar, Onitsha etc, with gutters and shanties here and there. They don't have communities without free water and electricity. Thus, self-isolation appears easy.
Sometimes, it appears we think more intelligently than our leaders, but this is not the case; they equally know what we know. Talking about telling the truth, they have refused to tell citizens and will never tell what the truth is. This is because they benefit more from shroud politics and fraudulent leadership, which by all means makes them appear unintelligent.
Unfortunately, we as citizens have not helped matters, because we appear to be uninformed as to what our rights are and how to demand for them.
Ordering the closure of markets and restricting movements without providing sustainable funds is wicked. You think you are preventing us from being killed by the virus, but no, you are leaving us to die in the hands of hunger. We buy water to survive, some people don't even have money to buy water. It is worthy of note that the European countries that ordered their citizens to self- isolate have made available funds to help them survive in the face of this pandemic.
In Nigeria, our medical practitioners and politicians are ringing “self-isolation and social-distancing” in our ears, but how will many Nigerians survive 2 weeks without hustling and going to the streets to find their daily bread?
By forcing Nigerians to self-isolate without putting anything in their pockets, the government is only asking Nigerians to choose between death by COVID-19 or death by hunger. How have they saved us by this? This is not a response peculiar to our society.
Before they ordered the lockdown in affected states, did the government take into consideration what people living in the rural areas of the states will pass through as a result of their decision? How do they expect us to survive without food?
Nigerian leaders should be creative and stop the act of copy-cat. This is why we have remained subordinates to the white; depending on them for everything.
In disbelief, Nigerian leaders give themselves the best in this world. They ride in the best cars, wear the best clothes, live in the best houses, access the best hospitals in the world, have the best security, send their children to the best schools in the world. They give themselves world-class services with our commonwealth, while leaving those that gave them the mandate to serve in abject poverty and suffering.
Thankfully, It isn't past the time for us to wake from our slumber and sleep, and fight for our rights. Who said that we don’t have the right to demand for the best services from them? Who taught us that we don't deserve to ask them for world-class services?
How are we going to sustain families during this self-isolation period If the situation gets too tough? This is the window period to think!! My people, we shouldn't let it hit us before we plan for it.
America with the lowest level of poverty is supporting its citizens with a specific sum of money, but our leaders are comfortable isolating us without food.
Say no to self-isolation without a sum of money to support the citizens.
