Covid-19: Prince Azubuike, Esq. Writes Gov Wike, Advises Him On Measures To Take

A Port Harcourt based lawyer and a Partner of West Law Solicitors, Prince Azubuike, Esq., has written an open letter to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, over the Covid-19 Pandemic.

In the letter which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL),Azubuike advised the governor on measures to take including testing Centres in the three Senatorial Districts of the state, taking car of the welfare of the people, etc.

Read the full letter below:

Your Excellency,

It is quite unfortunate that I am writing you at a critical moment of great concern to all and sundry. The current situation as a result of the Covid-19 virus plaguing humanity irrespective of social class or economic status will surely not leave us the same way it met us.

Let me sincerely appreciate your leadership in this trying times as evident in the strong and decisive measures you have put in place in seeing that this pandemic doesn’t see our end. This is more so commendable as this level of leadership is missing in the national sphere. This pandemic has thus revealed an undeniable truth that governance is not a game, it is a job.

To assume that there is a robust medical facility in our dear state capable of handling a full blown pandemic of his nature is laughable to say the least. This is a pandemic that has humbled the pride of western nations. This is not to say that we should fold our arms as a sign of surrender to this virus. While we are expecting the best, we should prepare for the worse.

Your Excellency sir, at this defining moment in our history, we must at all times thrive to set the cats before the pigeons. First of all, it is disheartening to know that of all the six testing centres of the NCDC Molecular Laboratory Network, none is located in Rivers State. This is a state that boast of two Teaching Hospitals and a specialized University of Medical Sciences, the first of its kind in the entire country.

We must as a matter of urgency introduce testing centres in the three Senatorial Districts of the State to fast-track the testing of residence in the State. We cannot afford to be taking samples for testing from Rivers State to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State, a distance of over 300 Kilometres for a disease that was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since the first week of February and a disease whose genome was released as early as January this year.

Your Excellency, healthcare and economy are both sides of the same coin, the Covid-19 pandemic will be an acid test of our standard of governance and social capital of trust, and as a matter of urgency, if we must emerge out of this scourge stronger, then we have no choice but to IDENTIFY, ISOLATE AND TREAT. Upon this tripod and philosophy lies in keeping low the mortality rates. Otherwise, we have the tendency of being at par if not overtaking Lagos State as the new epicentre of this monster called Covid-19. Hard containment should not be a choice but our only option in seeing that we kick this pandemic out of our state and by extension the country.

Furthermore, Your Excellency, in this period of stay at home, it is imperative that a robust social welfare scheme be made available to our teeming population who have been compelled to stay at home in obedience to your directive. This can be achieved as we have seen in Lagos State through partnership with NGO’s and some religious organisations, as when a man’s livelihood is as stake, laws becomes useless.

Your Excellency, this is indeed a time of unity, a time for thoughts, and above all, a time for action. We have entered a sobering period. We face a challenge we cannot see but one that can find us too easily. As individuals, this puts every one of us at a startling disadvantage.

Finally, Your Excellency, leadership will determine the extent Covid-19 will deal with us, and leadership will equally determine how soon we will get out from this pandemic. I firmly believe that a man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfilment of all that he holds so dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted in the field of battle – victorious. Let us as a state under your leadership seize this opportunity so our model will be a reference point for others.

Thank you.
Long live Rivers State.
Long live Nigeria.
Prince Azubuike Esq.
Partner, West Law Solicitors
Port Harcourt.