Rivers State: A Dangerous Gamble, By Magnus Abe

Related stories

‘PM Modi a tough negotiator’: US vice president JD Vance says trade deal with India soon

U.S. Backstabs India, Shields Pakistan? JD Vance's Shock Message...

NANS: Prevail On Your Son, Nigeria Not Your Family’s Property, Atiku Tells Tinubu

By Kolawole Ojebisi The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples...

AfDB President Adesina Raises Concerns Over Nigeria’s GDP Per Capita Plummeting to $824

By Abiola Olawale Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African...

Reactions As Tinubu Okays Degree Programs for Colleges of Education

By Abiola Olawale The Federal Government has approved a dual...

I am constrained to say these few words on the worrisome development in my dear state, Rivers.

The demolition and auction of private property, the closure of all sources of survival for citizens of Rivers state without due consideration for their means of sustenance in the name of the battle against COVID 19, are draconian measures that will prove counterproductive in the long run.

Lockdowns must come with clear provisions for the sustenance of the people, particularly the vulnerable population (the young, the old, the sick and the infirm) and exemptions must be made for emergency and essential services, such as foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, press, medical care and security services, electricity, telecom, fuel supply etc.Rivers State

Read also: Uproar As 82 CSOs Kick Over Buhari’s Newly Constituted Police Trust Fund

To do otherwise even in times of physical warfare is a war crime, for power without compassion is tyranny.

The Rivers state war against COVID 19 at this rate runs the risk of dividing the state into two distinct camps, those who support the Governor and will justify, glorify and applaud any action taken by the Rivers state government no matter how callous and ill-advised, and those who oppose the governor and will oppose every action of the state government no matter how well thought out or well-intentioned the action may be.

In the face of glaring excesses, everyone will be compelled to choose one side or the other, and our state will suffer.

This need not be so, there is still time for the Rivers state government to reconsider its strategy, and understand that this is a scientific war against a virus and all of us will need to be involved.

At this rate, the government may win the lockdown battle and lose the war.

COVID 19 is going to be here for some time and we need the goodwill and cooperation of the majority of our people to win the war against this virus.

True victory will be when we survive united in utmost solidarity and our economy rebounds as we hope for recovery and prosperity.
This war is fundamentally about collective humanity, it must, therefore, be fought on strictly humane and just terms.

NB: Senator Magnus Abe is a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Babajide Okeowo
Babajide Okeowohttps://newdiplomatng.com/
With a career spanning over a decade spent across the Business, Political and Entertainment beats of prominent media organizations in Nigeria, Babajide Okeowo has carved a niche for himself as a Journalist of repute. As a newsroom guru, he has penned several weighty narratives and designed content that speak to a news medium's values, vision and mission while ensuring that the content resonate pretty well with a variety of critical audiences across Nigeria and beyond. A consummate storyteller whose coverage of the business industry is valuable, Okeowo is blessed with a vast analytical mind and data interpretation skills. In his spare time, he interprets data for a Leading American University while also volunteering for a Non-Governmental Organization on Mindset Transformation. Okeowo is the Content Editor of The New Diplomat.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

Leave a reply

  • Disqus Comments
newdiplomatng
Latest News
'PM Modi a tough negotiator': US vice president JD Vance says trade deal with India soonNANS: Prevail On Your Son, Nigeria Not Your Family's Property, Atiku Tells TinubuAfDB President Adesina Raises Concerns Over Nigeria’s GDP Per Capita Plummeting to $824Otti Dismisses Defection Rumour Says I'm Closer To Abuja Than Oborevwori, Okowa, Eno Umo, OthersReactions As Tinubu Okays Degree Programs for Colleges of EducationEl-Rufai Calls for Investigation into Alleged Torture of NANS President by Seyi TinubuSeyi Tinubu Denies Allegations of Bribery, Abduction, and Torture of NANS President, IsahAlleged N71bn Fraud: Drama as ICPC Reverses Self Over NELFUNDRivers NLC Shuns May Day Celebration, Demands Fubara's ReinstatementBaba-Ahmed Opens Up On Real Reason For Resigning From Tinubu's GovtPrince Harry Awaits UK Security Appeal Outcome on FridayJournalism Qualifications; Not a prerequisite for the practice of journalismWike vs Douye Diri: Minister's Allies Kick Over Governor's Sacking Of 27 Political AppointeesWhy Tinubu 'll Visit Anambra Next Week, By SoludoUzodinma Reverses Acting CJ's Appointment After NJC's Directive, Cites Reasons
X whatsapp