On-the-supposed-relief-packages-during-the-lockdown-by-nigerian-political-leaders-the-height-of-insensitivity-and-wickedness-against-nigerians-by-government-all-levels-that-are-supposed-to-be-custodians-of-public-funds
September 7, 2020 | News
ON THE SUPPOSED RELIEF PACKAGES DURING THE LOCKDOWN BY NIGERIAN POLITICAL LEADERS – THE HEIGHT OF INSENSITIVITY AND WICKEDNESS AGAINST NIGERIANS BY GOVERNMENT ALL LEVELS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CUSTODIANS OF PUBLIC FUNDS
Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, daily life amongst Nigerians, especially within the lockdown across the country, has left countless crying of hunger, hardship, and difficulty in sustaining life itself. But rather than political leaders, as custodians of public resources to come in and make their presence felt with reasonable and considerable palliatives and relief packages to cushion and ameliorate the adverse effects and sufferings experienced by Nigerians in trying times, they have decided to exhibit the height of insensitivity. Call it man’s ‘deliberate’ wickedness to his fellow man, or man’s inhumanity to others; you would be correct, in describing how the Nigerian political leaders across different parts of the country have been going about their so-called provision of relief packages to Nigerians.
Take the situation in Delta State for instance, where the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led Government only started its supposed distribution of relief packages on April 17, 2020, which is the third week of the lockdown in the State, after its failed and disgraceful attempt to do same within the first two weeks. And all we keep hearing from majority of Deltans is that they have not seen or received anything yet from the Government. As such, many find it difficult taking the Okowa-led Government seriously. It is all grand posing for them.
In fact, apart from the lockdown, which is all that the Delta State Government could come up with or think of in curtailing the possible spread of the Coronavirus pandemic; there is nothing else the Okowa-led Government has been able to do to help Deltans and Nigerians in the State to pass through these difficult times. All the noise and publicity being made about food supply to the people in Delta State during the lockdown, is nothing but a showcase of a Government that wants to be applauded for doing nothing concrete in a crisis situation. It is gross abuse, and a height of insensitivity, that what some people in Delta State could only get from Okowa’s ‘almighty-relief-package’ is a cup of rice. It is like mocking the people who supposedly voted him into Government. What will a man, not talkless of one with a family, do with a cup/few cups of rice or garri for Four Weeks lockdown? How does a Government, expect people to survive for weeks of a lockdown with such insensitivity and apology-of-a-relief-package, especially those whose daily ‘hustle’ and business is what put food on their tables?
Is it not better for State Governors like Okowa not to give anything at all than to give such amount of food to few persons, while many others have not seen any of such food items with their eyes at all? The few persons that are given cups of rice or garri, is that what they expect them to eat and survive with their families for weeks of the lockdown? Are the people not entitled to have access to ‘enough’ good food in these trying times? Is this the so-called ‘Food bank’ of Okowa? Are they aware of the level of suffering and hardship people are daily passing through? Do they have conscience at all? Do they think they will live forever with their wickedness?
As it is with in Delta State, so it is in many other States across the country. But if this is their idea of how to govern well, and use the public funds in their coffers for the development of their individual States and the country, then we are certain that few Nigerians or no Nigerian will care about their political aspirations after this lockdown.
Even the Federal Government is worse off in its supposed steps to help Nigerians survive in the current Stay-at-home order across the country.
We find it appalling that some States, like Delta State, have been excluded from the Federal Government’s National Cash Transfer for COVID-19, while the North West zone gets the biggest share. The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) info-graphics created on April 11, 2020 and made public by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) revealed the discrepancies in the cash transfer scheme. It disclosed that 1,126,211 households were currently benefitting from the conditional cash transfer including: Katsina (133,227), Zamfara (130,764), Jigawa (99,004), Kano (84,148) and Plateau (78,431), while Borno, Delta and Lagos got zero allocation, among others. Some stakeholders have already lamented what they described as unequal relationship among states of the country given the lopsidedness in the national transfer scheme. In the words of a public affairs analyst, “There is nothing national in it. It is actually a transfer of the wealth of one section of the country to another. It shows the nepotism and tribalism of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, whether in appointments or allocation of resources, projects and even the coronavirus pandemic.”
Many Nigerians have expressed their discontentment with the way the Nigerian Government across all levels are handling their so-called relief materials meant for poor Nigerians. Some have advised the Federal, State and Local Government authorities to create ‘Feeding Centres’ urgently in order to cushion the effect of the extension of COVID-19 lockdown. But the question is, why would a supposed Federal Government be dividing Nigeria along ethnic lines amid the coronavirus disease? Why should the Government at all level device means of making the diversion of palliatives cumbersome, unprofitable and unnecessary? This was how it was reported online that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouk, allegedly stated that: “They are only sharing money to the poorest Nigerians in the North because we don’t have poor people in Southern Nigeria. They have people outside the country that is taking care of them, so they are not going to South Nigeria.” But if this is really the statement that came from the said Minister, we believe she needs to apologize to the entire people of Southern Nigeria. Such statements are divisive, and careless of a Minister appointed to serve the entire country. There are countless people that are of the poor amongst the poor in the Southern Nigeria. So, what exactly is the Minister talking about?
Regardless on anything, the bottom line is that one would have expected the Nigerian Government across all levels to take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to impress the Nigerian public by doing the needful. Food, ought to be the easiest thing that any well-meaning Government should make the required sacrifice to provide enough of it for its people. But sadly, Nigerians are subjected to all types of dehumanizing experiences, even before the pandemic. So, the case is now worse in the pandemic. As there are no food, no portable water, no power supply, no access to medical care, nothing from supposedly elected Nigerian Governments towards it people.
This is unlike what we have seen by other Government leaders in other climes. I was moved when I came across the video message of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Pierre James Trudeau to the Canadian people:
“In one way or another, the spread of COVID-19 is forcing all of us to change our daily routines. That might mean working from home, or it might mean planning how to close your businesses temporary. Many of you are worried about your jobs, about paying the bills, about taking care of your kids. But know that WE HAVE GOT YOUR BACK. WE HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A WHOLE RANGE OF MEASURES TO PROTECT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, FROM NEW RULES ON EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO FINANCING BUSINESSES. AND TODAY, WE LAUNCHED A $27BILLION PLAN TO HELP ALL CANADIANS GET THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES AND EXCEPTIONAL TIMES. COMBINED WITH OTHER MEASURES, WE ARE ANNOUNCING A TOTAL OF $82BILLION TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ECONOMY – THAT’S MORE THAN 3 PERCENT OF OUR ECONOMY. If you fall ill, or have to self-isolate, but you don’t qualify for EI (Emergency Intervention) or have access to sick leave, we’ll be PUTTING MONEY IN YOUR POCKET EVERY TWO WEEKS. If you have kids, we’re boosting the Canada Child Benefit. If you get the GST Credit, we’re boosting that too. And if you’re an employer of a small business who’s worried about paying staff, we’ll give you a temporary wage subsidy to keep people on the payroll. For everyone, those experiencing homelessness of fleeing domestic violence, farmers, young workers, or indigenous communities – this plan has targeted measures for you too. We’re putting out all the steps to protect jobs and the economy. And the same goes for people’s health and safety. I spoke with President Trump this morning, and we’ve agreed that both Canada and the United States will temporary restrict all non-essential travel across the US – Canada border. We closed our airport to people who aren’t Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
“We took action to support Canadians who are still abroad. And we built on what we’ve already done to invest in our healthcare system. Across the country, people like you are reaching out to support each other. You know we’re in this together. And so, does our team. We’ve been in constant contact with the Provinces and Territories, with indigenous leaders and communities, and international counterparts. Together, we can make sure that everyone has the support they need. This isn’t an easy time. But it’s going to get better. And until it does, let’s just focus on the steps ahead. Stay home to protect your health and your family’s health, but also to lift the load on our doctors and nurses. Ask how you can help out an elderly neighbour. And make sure that you’re taking time for yourself to rest and do what you need, to stay positive. For a little while, this will be our new normal. And that’s ok, because we’re in it together.” Quite inspiring and hopeful, wouldn’t you agree?
The Delta State Governor, as the example here, as well as the Federal Government and all those concerned in relevant authorities Governments, should be reminded that any injustice perpetrated against the people will always attract the wrath of God, especially when it is being carried out by people in Authority against the downtrodden public. Whatever a man sows, that he shall surely reap in this lifetime for GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED. They should be rest assured that the wrath of God will eventually be upon them if they do not change and turn away from their evil and wicked/heartless ways during this pandemic crisis in the country. No Court of man can punish them the way they truly deserve. It is only in the Court of God that they will get the judgement due to them if they do not change.
Zik Gbemre.
April 21, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, daily life amongst Nigerians, especially within the lockdown across the country, has left countless crying of hunger, hardship, and difficulty in sustaining life itself. But rather than political leaders, as custodians of public resources to come in and make their presence felt with reasonable and considerable palliatives and relief packages to cushion and ameliorate the adverse effects and sufferings experienced by Nigerians in trying times, they have decided to exhibit the height of insensitivity. Call it man’s ‘deliberate’ wickedness to his fellow man, or man’s inhumanity to others; you would be correct, in describing how the Nigerian political leaders across different parts of the country have been going about their so-called provision of relief packages to Nigerians.
Take the situation in Delta State for instance, where the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led Government only started its supposed distribution of relief packages on April 17, 2020, which is the third week of the lockdown in the State, after its failed and disgraceful attempt to do same within the first two weeks. And all we keep hearing from majority of Deltans is that they have not seen or received anything yet from the Government. As such, many find it difficult taking the Okowa-led Government seriously. It is all grand posing for them.
In fact, apart from the lockdown, which is all that the Delta State Government could come up with or think of in curtailing the possible spread of the Coronavirus pandemic; there is nothing else the Okowa-led Government has been able to do to help Deltans and Nigerians in the State to pass through these difficult times. All the noise and publicity being made about food supply to the people in Delta State during the lockdown, is nothing but a showcase of a Government that wants to be applauded for doing nothing concrete in a crisis situation. It is gross abuse, and a height of insensitivity, that what some people in Delta State could only get from Okowa’s ‘almighty-relief-package’ is a cup of rice. It is like mocking the people who supposedly voted him into Government. What will a man, not talkless of one with a family, do with a cup/few cups of rice or garri for Four Weeks lockdown? How does a Government, expect people to survive for weeks of a lockdown with such insensitivity and apology-of-a-relief-package, especially those whose daily ‘hustle’ and business is what put food on their tables?
Is it not better for State Governors like Okowa not to give anything at all than to give such amount of food to few persons, while many others have not seen any of such food items with their eyes at all? The few persons that are given cups of rice or garri, is that what they expect them to eat and survive with their families for weeks of the lockdown? Are the people not entitled to have access to ‘enough’ good food in these trying times? Is this the so-called ‘Food bank’ of Okowa? Are they aware of the level of suffering and hardship people are daily passing through? Do they have conscience at all? Do they think they will live forever with their wickedness?
As it is with in Delta State, so it is in many other States across the country. But if this is their idea of how to govern well, and use the public funds in their coffers for the development of their individual States and the country, then we are certain that few Nigerians or no Nigerian will care about their political aspirations after this lockdown.
Even the Federal Government is worse off in its supposed steps to help Nigerians survive in the current Stay-at-home order across the country.
We find it appalling that some States, like Delta State, have been excluded from the Federal Government’s National Cash Transfer for COVID-19, while the North West zone gets the biggest share. The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) info-graphics created on April 11, 2020 and made public by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) revealed the discrepancies in the cash transfer scheme. It disclosed that 1,126,211 households were currently benefitting from the conditional cash transfer including: Katsina (133,227), Zamfara (130,764), Jigawa (99,004), Kano (84,148) and Plateau (78,431), while Borno, Delta and Lagos got zero allocation, among others. Some stakeholders have already lamented what they described as unequal relationship among states of the country given the lopsidedness in the national transfer scheme. In the words of a public affairs analyst, “There is nothing national in it. It is actually a transfer of the wealth of one section of the country to another. It shows the nepotism and tribalism of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, whether in appointments or allocation of resources, projects and even the coronavirus pandemic.”
Many Nigerians have expressed their discontentment with the way the Nigerian Government across all levels are handling their so-called relief materials meant for poor Nigerians. Some have advised the Federal, State and Local Government authorities to create ‘Feeding Centres’ urgently in order to cushion the effect of the extension of COVID-19 lockdown. But the question is, why would a supposed Federal Government be dividing Nigeria along ethnic lines amid the coronavirus disease? Why should the Government at all level device means of making the diversion of palliatives cumbersome, unprofitable and unnecessary? This was how it was reported online that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouk, allegedly stated that: “They are only sharing money to the poorest Nigerians in the North because we don’t have poor people in Southern Nigeria. They have people outside the country that is taking care of them, so they are not going to South Nigeria.” But if this is really the statement that came from the said Minister, we believe she needs to apologize to the entire people of Southern Nigeria. Such statements are divisive, and careless of a Minister appointed to serve the entire country. There are countless people that are of the poor amongst the poor in the Southern Nigeria. So, what exactly is the Minister talking about?
Regardless on anything, the bottom line is that one would have expected the Nigerian Government across all levels to take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to impress the Nigerian public by doing the needful. Food, ought to be the easiest thing that any well-meaning Government should make the required sacrifice to provide enough of it for its people. But sadly, Nigerians are subjected to all types of dehumanizing experiences, even before the pandemic. So, the case is now worse in the pandemic. As there are no food, no portable water, no power supply, no access to medical care, nothing from supposedly elected Nigerian Governments towards it people.
This is unlike what we have seen by other Government leaders in other climes. I was moved when I came across the video message of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Pierre James Trudeau to the Canadian people:
“In one way or another, the spread of COVID-19 is forcing all of us to change our daily routines. That might mean working from home, or it might mean planning how to close your businesses temporary. Many of you are worried about your jobs, about paying the bills, about taking care of your kids. But know that WE HAVE GOT YOUR BACK. WE HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A WHOLE RANGE OF MEASURES TO PROTECT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, FROM NEW RULES ON EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO FINANCING BUSINESSES. AND TODAY, WE LAUNCHED A $27BILLION PLAN TO HELP ALL CANADIANS GET THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES AND EXCEPTIONAL TIMES. COMBINED WITH OTHER MEASURES, WE ARE ANNOUNCING A TOTAL OF $82BILLION TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ECONOMY – THAT’S MORE THAN 3 PERCENT OF OUR ECONOMY. If you fall ill, or have to self-isolate, but you don’t qualify for EI (Emergency Intervention) or have access to sick leave, we’ll be PUTTING MONEY IN YOUR POCKET EVERY TWO WEEKS. If you have kids, we’re boosting the Canada Child Benefit. If you get the GST Credit, we’re boosting that too. And if you’re an employer of a small business who’s worried about paying staff, we’ll give you a temporary wage subsidy to keep people on the payroll. For everyone, those experiencing homelessness of fleeing domestic violence, farmers, young workers, or indigenous communities – this plan has targeted measures for you too. We’re putting out all the steps to protect jobs and the economy. And the same goes for people’s health and safety. I spoke with President Trump this morning, and we’ve agreed that both Canada and the United States will temporary restrict all non-essential travel across the US – Canada border. We closed our airport to people who aren’t Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
“We took action to support Canadians who are still abroad. And we built on what we’ve already done to invest in our healthcare system. Across the country, people like you are reaching out to support each other. You know we’re in this together. And so, does our team. We’ve been in constant contact with the Provinces and Territories, with indigenous leaders and communities, and international counterparts. Together, we can make sure that everyone has the support they need. This isn’t an easy time. But it’s going to get better. And until it does, let’s just focus on the steps ahead. Stay home to protect your health and your family’s health, but also to lift the load on our doctors and nurses. Ask how you can help out an elderly neighbour. And make sure that you’re taking time for yourself to rest and do what you need, to stay positive. For a little while, this will be our new normal. And that’s ok, because we’re in it together.” Quite inspiring and hopeful, wouldn’t you agree?
The Delta State Governor, as the example here, as well as the Federal Government and all those concerned in relevant authorities Governments, should be reminded that any injustice perpetrated against the people will always attract the wrath of God, especially when it is being carried out by people in Authority against the downtrodden public. Whatever a man sows, that he shall surely reap in this lifetime for GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED. They should be rest assured that the wrath of God will eventually be upon them if they do not change and turn away from their evil and wicked/heartless ways during this pandemic crisis in the country. No Court of man can punish them the way they truly deserve. It is only in the Court of God that they will get the judgement due to them if they do not change.
Zik Gbemre.
April 21, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes