At about 11: 32 AM yesterday being the 27th day of June 2019, an Abuja based lawyer named Realwan Okpanachi alarmed via his facebook handle that he, his wife and their three (3) years old daughter were tested positive for the ravaging deadly Coronavirus code named as Covid-19 and were undergoing treatment at Idu Isolation Center, Idu Railway Station, Abuja. In his statement, he said, “I started having symptoms such as fever, headache and lost of taste and smell from Ogugu, Olamaboro L.G.A, Kogi State. The death of my father in-law forced me to travel to Ogugu recently where all the guidelines put in place by NCDC were not observed. I call on NCDC to move to Ogugu, Olamaboro L.G.A immediately with a view to carrying out comprehensive test in the community and arrest the community transmission going on there.”
About two (2) hours later, the Kogi State government through the Squadron Committee on Coronavirus aired a press statement stating that the alarm raised by the Barrister is “false.” In her statement, “Extensive findings from our team who contacted community leaders, health practitioners and natives of the said location highlighted by the alarmist shows that he has planted a false information intended to cause panic. No deaths have been recorded as alleged from symptoms of COVID19.”
The Committee also expressed it’s shock over how the alarmist was able to travel from Abuja to Ogugu amidst the interstate travel restriction placed by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control, NCDC, which is the body charged with the management of Covid-19 in Nigeria. It further enjoined the members of the public to go about their normal business as it insisted that “Kogi is free from any case of the virus so far.”
Recall that the Kogi State government and the NCDC have been at a loggerhead since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The government who has consistently insisted that the state is free from Covid-19 had received applause from her citizens except others who opined that the refusal to open up the state for management by the NCDC could pose imminent danger on its people.
While emerging trends and updates as regard the existence and spread of coronavirus in Nigeria have created deep skepticism among the people which is why most Kogites have chosen to stand by their government, it would be outright ignorance for anyone to doubt the presence of the virus having taken up prominent Nigerians like the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammed Buhari, Abbah Kyari and Senator Ajimobi who succumbed to the cold hands death after their failed battles with the virus.
As tongues continue to wag over the alarm raised by Barr. Realwan Okpanachi who hails from Ofante Ogugu and the counter statement dished out by the State government, it’s copernican to unearth facts so as to save lives. The duo can’t be right at the same time; either the government is not being truthful or the alarmist has interior motive(s). Albeit, one thing is certain, someone is lying to the people and it’s witchery and callousness to play politics with human lives.
Looking at the reactions trailing the issue so far from the both divides, there are gray areas that call for attentions. Firstly, it seems undue for the state government to rely on phone calls and come out in just about few hours from the time the alarm was raised to claim that there is no community transmission in the said community when it has not deployed the required medical apparatus to trace, track and checkmate contacts contacted as alleged by the alarmist.
I stumbled on Mr. Realwan’s post about 30 minutes after he made it and I swiftly dragged the attention of certain top government officials and the outcome of it shows that the government functionaries seem to have made up their minds no to consider any information about Covid-19 in the state worthy of attention. The attack I got also shown to me that the government officials seem to be seeing any information about the the possible outbreak or spread of the coronavirus in the state as an attack against the government.
Although the government said it has reached out to the community and necessary bodies, Mr. Realwan confirmed to me as at 9 : 43 PM yesterday when we spoke that he was yet to be contacted by the head of the government committee in charge of coronavirus. Ordinarily, it’s expected that the alarmist be reached as its possible that anyone could hack into a facebook account for malicious purposes. The failure of the body to reach out to the alarmist for fact check simply means all is not right.
However, as dubious politicking is now the new order in the Nigerian political circle, it’s safe to say that people can do anything for a pay. Barr. Realwan has been accused of being paid to frame up stories to cause unnecessary panic. Other quarters have also seen to it that such information is expected from someone who is a known critic of the Kogi State government. This is inline with the view of the Ejeh of Olamaboro, Chief Simeon Ujah when the royal father superintending over Olamaboro with which Ogugu falls under took to his facebook hand to say “this Same Individual Has Been Critical Of Governor Bello’s Government From Inception. We Must Know Where The Red Tape Is In Politics!”
Inline with the state government, Chief Simeon Ujah who, truly, is in a right position to speak over whatever happens in Ogugu, confirmed that “Olamaboro Is Still Free Of COVID-19!” Even though some of us relied on this confirmation earlier and calls made, it won’t be part of wisdom to take an alarm raised by a reputable practicing lawyer for levity or to trash it because it’s coming from a critic. The Alarmist gave details of his condition and even a traceable name of the center where he is isolated.
Another important gray angle that calls for attention is the reactions coming in from those who know Barr. Realwan in person and have been strong supporters of the government. Certain persons in this circle are against the government in this particular issue having discovered that the Barrister never lied. He was seen to have attended his father-inlaw’s burial in Ogugu as he said and some people claimed to have reached out to him to confirm his condition.
One of the persons in this category is Hon. Solomon Ejiga Ofante who is related to Barr Realwan. Ejiga who is a staunch follower of the GYB government took to his facebook to berate the government and everyone condemning the action of Mr. Realwan or tagging it as false. “Instead of commending Barr. Realwan Okpanachi for coming out to speak as a way to save the community especially those he has contact with from this Dreaded Pandemic, it has now been given political colouration. Apart from him being my uncle it is pertinent we don’t take this with levity. This is a pandemic that has posses threat to humanity inrespective of skin colour,” Ejiga Ofante said.
It was also seen that certain eminent personalities like Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, are not in doubt over the status of health announced by Mr. Realwan. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria has joined many Kogites praying for quick recovery of the infected barrister, Chief Ogwo, at about 9 : 21 PM yesterday wrote to Realwan via his facebook saying, “Realwan, in the middle of difficulty lies Oopportunity. In darkness we see Stars. Be strong to come forth.” This is one of the many massages giving credence to Mr. Realwan’s claim.
While the government and her supporters continue to capitalize on the violation of the interstate travel restriction by Realwan, Hon. Ejiga who is also a strong member of the government supporters revealed that “All the assembly members from kogi State were in Abuja to condol with the Governor on the death of his PA last two weeks. And the death of their Late colleague from Ibaji this week again. so now who is violating the inter state lockdown roles?” Truly, if the government is not shocked over the assembly members who trooped to Abuja to register their condolences to the governor, why should they be surprised over Mr. Realwan’s traveling to Kogi for similar purpose? Or, do the house members have executive immune systems that is Corona Virus proof?
As tension has, again, started raising in Kogi State since yesterday, Comrade Austin Usman Okai and others have urged the government to upon up the state for NCDC to come in and do the needful. There is also an allegation that there are people dying within the interior communities in the state as a result of unknown diseases. Even though the death of the governor’s PA who allegedly passed-on on a ventilator and the demise of the House of Assembly members have been disassociated from Covid-19 by the government, not everyone is convinced.
It’s 22 days today since the death and burial of Realwan’s father in-law whose burial necessitated his traveling to Ogugu. While we are yet to know of anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 in that land, it is another thing to also know that the people might not have been tested and without tracing and testing contacts, it’s funny to affirm that the place is free from Covid-19.
So far, one thing is certain, there is truth and there is lie in this case. In the coming days, the truth will surface.
