TheCable

BY GODSWILL OKIYI

The COVID-19 pandemic has practically shutdown the World. Economies are plunging fast, people dying by the day, many theories are being propounded by experts, non-experts including men of God, of different faiths, who should be at the vanguard of providing care, comfort and hope for all. The Coronavirus pandemic has brought humanity to its knees. Great powers, industrialized nations with magnificent economies are worse off, as unemployment increases by the day, and values of shares crash abysmally.

What is going on can be equated with what happens in a war situation, or to a Country at war. The differences are many though, as there is a stable government that is in control, while law and order exists. Besides that, the COVID-19 pandemic has manifested all the characteristics of a war situation, upon humanity.

It is not easy to spend money even where you have it, and in Nigeria, the majority are within the informal market where they live by what they make either on a daily or weekly basis. With the lockdown, that has been abruptly brought to an end. There is no point to write upon what it has done to our individual styles, fashion, relationships among others. The state of war is worse and more disastrous.

Not too long ago, different people in their quest to achieve political ends and gains, threaten to go to war! Let’s assume that the COVID-19 pandemic is a shadow of what will happen in a war situation, can any stand the discomfort? Can we stand the block of communication lines, which will be fuelled by misinformation and propaganda? Security risks will be high as there will be no recognized controlling body to take charge, and death will be the end of most, or diseases. The pandemic has brought out the bestiality in some cases, and shown man’s inhumanity to another as everyone is lockdown, and draws closer to God, and their families; but war will be worst as each will strive to survive and get to friendly zones.

My prayer is soon the pandemic will flatten out, and be under control, but the lessons are much, especially for warmongers!  There is nothing as valuable as peace and mutual coexistence with one another.

Let’s take lessons from what is going on, and become partners to make the World a better place.

Okiyi, PhD, writes from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.