{"id":27609,"date":"2020-08-18T08:43:07","date_gmt":"2020-08-18T08:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?p=27609"},"modified":"2020-08-18T08:43:14","modified_gmt":"2020-08-18T08:43:14","slug":"bayelsa-and-other-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?p=27609","title":{"rendered":"Bayelsa and other stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/www.ripplesnigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Mr.-Reuben-Abati.jpg\" alt=\"A country without \u201crubber bullets\u201d\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSorry about your man\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou know I used to think that this COVID-19 thing is a kind of scientific joke, but now I am beginning to take it seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHow can you say that? It is people like you who mislead the public. I hope you have not been listening to those Pastors who tell people that COVID-19 is not real. I urge you not to commit suicide by exposing yourself unnecessarily. Are you aware that as at this moment the death toll worldwide is close to one million? And that over 21 million persons have been infected? You call that a joke?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut I hear it affects only some kind of people, the rich in particular. Big men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo. You only get to hear about the death of big men. You know that Shakespearean quote: \u201cWhen beggars die there are no comets seen;\/The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes\u201d . Thousands of poor people are probably dying every week in Nigeria as a result of COVID 19. But nobody knows. Nobody will report their death in the news because nobody knows them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In any case, the poor have their own explanation. They don\u2019t quite believe that there is anything called COVID-19. Just like you. They often attribute every death to witches and wizards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAre you saying witches and wizards cannot use&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ripplesnigeria.com\/tag\/COVID-19\">COVID-19<\/a>&nbsp;as a weapon of destruction?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn your mind. I\u2019d rather stay with science. Superstition and ignorance are the twin threats to the war against COVID-19 in Africa. While the rest of the world is mobilizing scientists, laboratories and resources to find a cure to the disease, Africans are talking about prayers and witchcraft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut I hear that even scientists are saying that the virus doesn\u2019t quite affect some people, due to previous exposure to a virus within the COVID family, or even common cold. Such persons develop natural antibodies in their T-Cells which protect them against the disease. I am actually quoting a report recently published in the Science Journal by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases led by Dr. Anthony Fauci, America\u2019s top expert on infectious diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe truth about this disease is that nothing is certain yet. What I have heard is that the virus is constantly mutating and that a new strain has now been discovered in Asia which is likely to be more lethal than the current one. It is called G614.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI forbid that in Jesus name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat are you forbidding? Just be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy the way, what do you think of the latest development in Bayelsa State? The Governor\u2019s election has been nullified by the Election Petition Tribunal. What do you think will happen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGovernor Douye Diri himself has indicated what will happen. He says his lawyers have been briefed to go to the Court of Appeal and that he is determined to go all the way to the Supreme Court. That is the best option available to him.&nbsp; A man who became Governor through the instrumentality of the law cannot be seen embracing any option other than the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPoor fellow. It is as if some people just don\u2019t want him in that position.&nbsp; Four different petitions were filed against him at the Tribunal by four political parties: the Alliance for Democracy (AD) the United People\u2019s Congress (UPC), the Liberation Movement (LM) and the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP). The petitions by the AD, UPC and LM were dismissed for lack of merit last weekend. But now a few days later, the ANDP petition has been upheld by the Tribunal.&nbsp; But should Douye Diri lose his seat because of a mistake that was committed by INEC?&nbsp; Diri was not the person who omitted the name and logo of the ANDP from the ballot box. INEC did that. Is it then right to cancel the election and order a re-run within 90 days on account of that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes. Absolutely. The Tribunal is correct. The ruling draws attention to a fundamental point about the validity of the Gubernatorial election conducted in Bayelsa state on November 16, 2019. The exclusion of the ANDP raises issues of validity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut do you think Diri will win at the Court of Appeal?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know. We should just wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo, if there is a re-run of the Gubernatorial election, will the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, David Lyon now be on the ballot too. After all, he won the election originally until his Deputy brought bad luck to the ticket and the Court nullified David Lyon\u2019s victory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read also:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ripplesnigeria.com\/its-time-to-take-it-to-the-next-level\/\">It\u2019s time to take it to the next level<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo. The APC cannot participate in the re-run election. The Lyon-Degi-Eremienyo ticket was declared invalid by the court. It remains so. But I foresee a lot of re-alignments. Even without a candidate in the election, the APC is not likely to fold its hands. The party can align with one of the other political parties, put up a proxy candidate on that other platform and give the PDP a serious fight. The APC will certainly see this as an opportunity to take Bayelsa back. Once their proxy candidate wins, the deed is done. One or two months later, the new Governor will simply jump ship and join the APC. Simple.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is that simple? I don\u2019t think so\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNot quite simple but it is all a matter of political strategy. Strategy matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDouye Diri will be foolish to allow the APC dislodge him with that kind of strategy. In fact, he should never have allowed the matter to get to this stage. He should have negotiated with the ANDP. Pay them off. In some states in the last election, there were some other political parties who were wrongfully excluded from the ballot sheet. The party that won at the end of the day negotiated with them and nobody went to court to challenge anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhere did that happen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAsk me again. Is it me you want to put into trouble? Are you not aware that if you say anything these days, you could be invited for a chat with the Department of State Services (DSS)?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou just like to talk. You lack courage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOkay, just whisper it to me. I won\u2019t tell anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDo I look like a child to you? I am just giving you an idea of how politicians behave. But one thing is certain, in Bayelsa, there will be re-alignments. We saw it happen in Imo State in 2007. That was how Chief Ikedi Ohakim of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) emerged victorious in that election. Chief Ohakim subsequently switched to the PDP, which decided to abandon its own candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and chose to campaign for Ohakim based on agreements. Ararume had taken the PDP to court. He was expelled by the party and taught a lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPoliticians. But it doesn\u2019t look like we will witness the kind of tension we are now seeing in Edo State in Bayelsa state, whatever happens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s wait and see. You can never predict politicians, although I must say that what is going on in Edo State is something else. I am just worried about the people of Edo State. The politicians are not talking about what the people want. They are more interested in their own squabbles and ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI will be surprised if there is no outbreak of violence in Edo State on election Day, September 19 and after, followed by post-election conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe security agencies have their job cut out for them. If there is any breakdown of law and order in Edo State, we must hold the Nigeria police responsible, because the situation is foreseeable. Even the electoral commission INEC, has warned about the threat of violence in Edo State.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cINEC should play its own part too. Otherwise, the next thing we will hear is that due to so, so and so, the Gubernatorial election in Edo State has been declared inconclusive!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cINEC has got to do what it has to do. If the politicians in Edo State do not want that to happen, then they should conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou know an idea just occurred to me.&nbsp; You know the Oba of Benin in Council can actually help ensure electoral peace in Edo State.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Oba already met with leaders of the political parties. He has appealed to them to give peace a chance. But you know the Oba of Benin cannot openly take sides. He is the father of all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know. I know. But you think these politicians will listen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo what should the Oba of Benin do then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSimple. You will recall a time when there was a sharp rise in human trafficking and crime in Benin City. The Oba directed the palace priests to bring out all the traditional missiles of Benin City, some of which had not been brought out in the sun for about 800 years. Clad in flaming red, the priests, native doctors and metaphysicians gathered at the palace, with the Oba in attendance and placed a curse on anyone committing crime, promoting human trafficking and disturbing the Edo Kingdom. The strategy worked. Crime rate went down immediately. Human traffickers went on holiday.&nbsp; Every body just hailed the King: \u201cOba gha to kpe e\u201d and behaved themselves. I understand the people of Edo believe in the efficacy of curses. So, what the palace needs to do this time is to adopt the same strategy. Place a curse on anybody that tries to sabotage the Gubernatorial election in that state on September 19. You\u2019d be surprised these politicians will not risk the outcome of ancestral curses. And nobody will allow his or her child to act as an agent of violence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou and your primitive ideas. Where have you ever heard of any such thing? Such an idea is unknown to the democratic process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is not everything that you can subject to textbook ideas, my friend. What I am suggesting is a kind of home-grown democracy. Democracy in Africa does not have to be an exact replica of how democracy works in America. My suggestion will work if taken. I probably won\u2019t recommend the same approach in another state, but in Edo State, it is the best way to ensure peace and protect the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI see you have not been going to church for a while. But now that the churches have re-opened, you need to seek salvation and confess your sins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI am not going to church for now. I want to wait till we actually know where we are going with COVID-19\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI thought you were once a Trustee of your church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh, no. Not any more. And in any case, Church Trustees are now in trouble. In the new Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, it is expressly stated that the Supervising Minister and Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) will regulate religious bodies and charity organizations. In addition, they can suspend the Trustees of an association or a religious body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGovernment is looking for trouble. The churches will protest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of the General Overseers, Daddy Oyedepo, has in fact started the protest. He says no government can regulate his Church or appoint trustees for him. One of these days, I won\u2019t be surprised if churches are asked to start paying tax, or that a General Overseer cannot also serve as Lead Pastor in the church. In other words, you can\u2019t be Chairman of the Church and also be the CEO, while your wife is the Treasurer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat provision applies only to public companies, not non-profit organizations like churches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWho told you a church is not-for-profit? Some churches in this country are richer than many banks!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJust be careful. You are toying with blasphemy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know what I am talking about. Some church leaders even have private jets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWell, now that international flights will be allowed, the Pastors can now start enjoying their private jets again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cInternational flights have resumed? When?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not yet. On August 29, according to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDo you think we are ready? International flights to where and from where? Definitely not to or from the United States, China, France, India, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina or any country that is a high-risk COVID-19 hotspot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Minister certainly needs to give more information. As for me and my humble household, no international travel till 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Author:&nbsp; Reuben Abati\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cSorry about your man\u201d \u201cThank you\u201d \u201cYou know I used to think that this COVID-19 thing is a kind of scientific joke, but now I am beginning to take it seriously.\u201d \u201cHow can you say that? It is people like you who mislead the public. I hope you have not been listening to those Pastors [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Bayelsa and other stories &raquo; WatchDog Plus Media<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?p=27609\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Odofin\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?p=27609#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Politics\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?cat=10\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Bayelsa and other stories\"}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bayelsa and other stories &raquo; WatchDog Plus Media","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?p=27609","author":"Odofin","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?p=27609#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Politics","item":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?cat=10"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Bayelsa and other stories"}]}]}},"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Odofin","author_link":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?author=2"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/?cat=10\" rel=\"category\">Politics<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"\u201cSorry about your man\u201d \u201cThank you\u201d \u201cYou know I used to think that this COVID-19 thing is a kind of scientific joke, but now I am beginning to take it seriously.\u201d \u201cHow can you say that? It is people like you who mislead the public. I hope you have not been listening to those Pastors&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27609"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27609"}],"version-history":[{"count":-4,"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27609\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchdogplusmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}