By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Rumours that the deadly Corona Virus pandemic has been politicised in Nigeria, with medical doctors in the various states allegedly conniving with their health ministries, Nigeria Center for Disease Control and presidential task force on Covid-19, have left some residents of Rivers State disappointed and sceptical.
Further reports in some quarters that some hospitals in Port Harcourt now record Covid-19 for most of their patients, including those with minor cases like cold-related cough, catarrh and internal heat, as part of the conspiracy to keep increasing Covid-19 cases in the state has elicited angry reactions from the majority of the residents who are now demanding that the state ministry of health should be showing the public the live video of the patients.
According to them, they can only be convinced that the daily reported increasing figures of Covid-19 cases is real if they see the patients on television.
As at yesterday, 6th July, 2020, Rivers State was reported to have more than 1000 cases of Covid-19 with about 700 recovered patients, 300 plus still active and close to 41 deaths.
But speaking to TPCN today in Port Harcourt, Matthew Firimabo, an accountant, expressed reservations over the claims.
He said: “I don’t have problem with the figures of Covid-19 cases being quoted every day in Rivers State, my concern is that they are not showing us the people, not even those who have recovered. So how do they expect us to believe them?”
For Evangelist Gloria Dike, a mobile preacher in Port Harcourt, Covid-19 is nothing but another conduit pipe which the federal and state governments are using to siphon money.
She added: “Covid-19 is not real. It may be real in China but not in Nigeria. They’re just using it to make money from foreign countries and organizations. If you know how much they’re giving Nigeria because of it you will understand what I am saying. So the federal government is now sharing it with the states and they’re increasing their figures to justify the money. But God is bigger than them.”
TPCN could not see the state commissioner for health, Prof Princewill Chike for his reaction to the issue, as he was not on seat when TPCN visited.
