This morning (April 10, 2020), The Guardian and Thisday Newspapers published editorials heaping insults on the person of the Rivers State Governor,\u00a0Chief 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.
\nMany more of these editorials are expected since the Federal Government has already paid heavily for anti-Wike and anti-Rivers reportage of recent events.\u00a0It is shameful that these media outlets have sold their platforms to anti-people businessmen and officials.
\nIn my piece: \u201cCOVID-19 Fight: FG Must Set Politics Aside\u201d on 10th April, 2020, I predicted that the Federal Government would engage the services of the mainstream media to promote\u00a0 falsehood and further attempt to endanger the lives of Rivers people.
\nThisday\u2019s Editorial titled: \u201cWike, Caverton and Matters Arising\u201d and The Guardian\u2019s Editorial titled: \u201cUnfortunate Detention of Pilots in Rivers\u201d of April 10, 2020 are the worst forms of editorial marketing and journalistic recklessness of recent times.
\nBoth editorials focused on the statements of Caverton,\u00a0the Minister of Aviation and APC\u2019s Mercenary Writers without any regard for the facts of the matter and issues of the SAFETY of Rivers people.\u00a0Once the payment was made,\u00a0the newspapers jumped into the political arena and deliberately\u00a0refused to investigate\u00a0the issues to come up with a pro-people position.
\nBoth editorials, like the Minister of Aviation,\u00a0erroneously discussed who is on what list and who should exercise what powers. Before Governor Wike moved to defend Rivers people,\u00a0he issued repeated warnings to Caverton Helicopters about flying in suspected cases of Coronavirus into Rivers State without observing the health protocols initiated to protect Rivers people.
\nIn their haste to justify their pay, Thisday and The Guardian stripped the Rivers State Government of all semblance of authority.\u00a0 To these two newspapers,\u00a0the Rivers State Governor is a lame-duck\u00a0once the EXCLUSIVE LIST\u00a0is mentioned.\u00a0 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.
\nOn April 5, in a state broadcast,\u00a0Governor Wike urged the Federal Government to prevail on Caverton to act responsibly.
\nWith credible intelligence on the deliberate transportation of suspected cases of Coronavirus into Rivers State by Caverton Helicopters\u00a0without subjecting such cases to tests by Rivers health professionals,\u00a0Governor Wike opened different lines of communication with the Federal Authorities.\u00a0 But\u00a0they ignored all entreaties.\u00a0When it became clear that there were sinister plots to cripple Rivers State with an escalation of Coronavirus,\u00a0Governor Wike stated his position in a state broadcast.
\nHe declared: \u201cThe 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.\u201d
\nThe Rivers State Government took action on 7th April 2020, following Caverton\u2019s continued disrespect for the laws of Rivers State and their disregard for Rivers people.\u00a0 This was two days after Governor Wike drew the attention of the entire world to this conspiracy.
\nThere is no record of any editorial written by either Thisday or The Guardian to urge the Federal Government to prevail on Caverton Helicopters to respect the health protocols set up to protect Rivers people from the deadly Coronavirus.
\nFor 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.\u00a0 The State Government did not arrest the pilots for flying into the state.
\nThey were arrested for Deliberately ignoring\u00a0repeated requests\u00a0that they and their passengers flown in from Lagos are subjected to tests by Rivers State health professionals to ascertain their Coronavirus status.\u00a0This is because these pilots and\u00a0passengers use hotels, roads, supermarkets, restaurants\u00a0and petrol stations\u00a0across Rivers State.\u00a0They interact with Rivers people,\u00a0thus making the state vulnerable.
\nEven the interaction between pilots of Caverton who fly in from a Coronavirus-impacted state and their ground staff in Port Harcourt poses danger to the entire state.
\nIt is embarrassing that Thisday and The Guardian would easily join Caverton 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.
\nThe 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.
\nRecall that on March 30, 2020, Rivers State Government announced\u00a0waivers to different categories of persons in view of the directive of the State Government closing the borders.
\nThey 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\u00a0must identify themselves with valid identity cards.\u00a0These persons are to subject themselves\u00a0to 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.
\nThese categories of workers on essential duties outlined in the state governor\u2019s Executive Order subject themselves to the health protocols at the entry points of the state. This is what is expected from pilots of Caverton Helicopters,\u00a0any other pilots and their passengers.
\nTo these people,\u00a0the Rivers State Government should play second fiddle in the face of deliberate actions to frustrate the protection of Rivers people.
\nThe questions begging for answers are: What is Caverton Helicopters hiding by refusing to subject its pilots and passengers to established health protocols when they arrive Rivers State?
\nWhy is the Federal Government only concerned about the money to be made in total disregard of measures to protect Rivers people from Coronavirus?
\nWhy has the Federal Government refused to prevail on Caverton 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?
\nIt must be stated clearly that the protection of Rivers people cannot be compromised\u00a0on the altar of any profession. It cannot be compromised on the altar of monetary consideration as promoted by the Aviation Minister.
\nTo these folks at the Federal Government,\u00a0Rivers State is only good because of the oil which is what they call NATIONAL INTEREST.\u00a0 Aside oil, every person in Rivers State can die. Once it comes to issues pertaining to Rivers State,\u00a0they lose their sense of empathy and responsibility.
\nFor the avoidance of the doubt, this is an emergency situation with an emergency law in operation.
\nThe Executive Order signed by Governor Wike\u00a0is titled: \u201cEXECUTIVE ORDER RVSG – 01 2020 PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2, 4 AND 8\u00a0OF QUARANTINE ACT, CAP. Q2 LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA\u00a02004 AND REGULATION 11 OF THE QUARANTINE (CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES) REGULATIONS,
\n2020.\u201d
\nThe Executive Order stated: \u201cIn 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\u00a0 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:
\nIt added:\u00a0 \u201cFlight 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.\u201d
\nThese newspapers in support of the plot to infect Rivers people with Coronavirus should hide their heads in shame.\u00a0Are they saying that Governor Wike should wait till millions of Rivers people are infected before he stands up to defend\u00a0 them?
\nWhen the Federal Government shunned Rivers State during the days of security infractions,\u00a0these newspapers joined to politicise the security challenges of the state.\u00a0 Whenever there was an infraction,\u00a0the newspapers led with the screaming headline: \u201cRIVERS OF BLOOD.\u201d\u00a0If the situation turns ugly and Coronavirus escalates in Rivers State,\u00a0these newspapers will be the first to de-market Rivers State.
\nThat 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.\u00a0 But the newspapers have no reason to support plots to jeopardise the peace, security and health of Rivers people.
\nAs I close, I cannot help but wonder why the EXCLUSIVE LIST of the Federal Government is only operational in Rivers State.\u00a0 None of these papers has written editorials condemning other states defending their people from Coronavirus.
\nIn the face of inaction of the Federal Government in other states, state governments have taken steps such as lockdown,\u00a0arrests and prosecutions.
\nThe following links point out actions in different states:\u00a0http:\/\/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\/
\nWhere 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\u00a0(OIL MONEY)?
\nThisday and The Guardian hail Lagos State for prosecuting Funke Akindele and husband for flouting Coronavirus containment, but join the Federal Government\u2019s\u00a0propaganda campaign when Rivers State moves to prosecute\u00a0 those who contravene the state\u2019s\u00a0 containment laws.
\nGovernor Wike has a word for them. In his broadcast of 8th April,\u00a02020, Governor Wike declared that the safety of Rivers people cannot be relegated on the altar of OIL MONEY as the Minister of Aviation,\u00a0Thisday and The Guardian are promoting.
\nThe Governor said: \u201cLet 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 Caverton 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
\n\u201c 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.\u201d
\nGoing forward,\u00a0Thisday and The Guardian should write on the failure of the Federal Government to make any investments\u00a0in the protection of 35 other states from Coronavirus.\u00a0In Rivers State, for example,\u00a0the Federal Government has done nothing to defend Rivers people from Coronavirus,\u00a0other than to deliberately compromise the health defence system of the state.
\nAs the Federal Government,\u00a0Thisday 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.\u00a0 Playing the OSTRICH confers no advantage on the Federal Government,\u00a0 Caverton Helicopters and their hired propaganda merchants.
\nNwakaudu is Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This morning (April 10, 2020), The Guardian and Thisday Newspapers published editorials heaping insults on the person of the Rivers State Governor,\u00a0Chief 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":231643,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-235201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=235201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/231643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=235201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=235201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=235201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}