₦airaland Forum

“Donald Trump is the most anti-science and anti-environment president we’ve ever had.” – Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian, Rice University.

What a careful observation of the Nigerian social media space would reveal is that there is a silent, simmering and sentimental support for the American President, Donald Trump, as he prepares to slug it out at the polls with Joe Biden by the end of the year. The support comes from two flanks. On the one side are some South-Easterners who – wrongly – assume that Trump is a Biafran champion, and is working hard to help them actualise their dream of an independent Biafran nation.

On the other side are uncountable Pentecost-minded Nigerian Christians, who are convinced that Trump is a die-hard Evangelical, on an end-time mission of taking America back to its Great Awakening past – when the fire of Pentecostal revival, ignited at Azusa Street, California, in 1906, spread to all the corners of the Earth. These believers see the American president as a tool in the hands of God, who drove out the assumed anti-Christian Obama/Clinton camp in order to re-establish the US’ battered Christian values.

As if in agreement with the faith-based disposition of the Charismatic/Evangelical folk, Trump has always exhibited a high propensity for “magical thinking”, right from day one. He seems to believe in miracles more than in science. He refuses to look at hard evidence; but constantly follows his intuition. Naturally, the opposition latched onto this and labelled him a promoter of conspiracy theories. But Trump, undaunted, keeps on shooting down long-established empirical systems. The environment took the most fatal shots: He says climate change is a hoax!

But as COVID-19 rages through the United States, the scientific world has begun to fight back. The latest battlefield is the hydroxychloroquine debate. The malaria drug has been officially declared as unsuitable for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, but Trump has declared that it effective, and said he was taking it himself. The US Food and Drug Administration had revoked its emergency-use authorisation for hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 after several studies cast doubt on the drug’s effectiveness. By way of validation, the leading public health expert on the White House coronavirus taskforce, Anthony Fauci, rubbished claims that the drug is a useful treatment for COVID-19.

“The overwhelming prevailing clinical trials that have looked at the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine have indicated that it is not effective in coronavirus disease,” Fauci said.

But Trump continues to defend it. Last week Tuesday, at a presidential briefing, he said: “Many doctors think it is extremely successful, the hydroxychloroquine. Some people don’t. Some people, I think it’s become very political. I happen to believe in it. I would take it. As you know, I took it for a 14-day period and I’m here, right? I’m here.”

The truth is that what is at stake here is not hydroxychloroquine; it is the age-old battle between science and religion. President Trump – a politician who had tactically chosen the religious bandwagon as the populist highway to power in a country that prides itself for its rich Christian heritage – represents those who believe in miracles and God’s eternal ability to use any element as a healing wand.

On the other side of the divide are American scientists who believe that America’s greatness is not in divine interventions, but in the ability of her leaders to galvanise the citizenry into creating timely innovations that would save the world at every troubled epoch.

Ironically, the American society is so sophisticated that Trump can no longer find easy disciples for his Christian crusade. Many of his compatriots believe in the transcendental abilities of the human mind and the empirical outcomes that flow out of libraries and laboratories. They are believers in the hi-tech capabilities of the American machine, and the boundless opportunities to be harnessed by any diligent American as a tool to join other global American brands to rule the world. In short, every living soul in “God’s own country” believes in the American Dream.

This is the reason why some of his own staff seem to be against him. And, yes, most Americans even prefer to work with his “more reasonable” aides more than Trump himself. Last month, a New York Times/Siena College poll found that 67% of Americans trust Fauci, who is also the country’s top infectious diseases expert, for accurate information about the coronavirus, whereas only 25% trust Trump.

In reaction to the poll, the president mused: “He’s got this high approval rating. So why don’t I have high approval rating with respect – and the administration – with respect to the virus? We should have it very high. So it sort of is curious, a man works for us, with us, very closely, Dr Fauci and Dr [Deborah] Birx also, very highly thought of – and yet, they’re highly thought of, but nobody likes me? It can only be my personality, that’s all!”

To me, it is not about Trump’s personality or anything. Americans are simply taking sides in the perennial conflict between science and religion. They refuse to be hounded into the atavistic train of precarious survivalism, from where their grandparents and founding fathers emerged – all the way from the Religious Wars-battered Europe. The modern American recognises that religion is a good way to start; yet, they know that the best of religions still wield the power to raise a tyrant more than the worst of science.

It is only in Africa, and, perhaps, other poor regions, that Trump could still find people to follow him in a faith-based campaign. And, had he realised this from the very start, he would not have called Africa a “shit-hole” continent. (Of course, then there was no COVID-19 to warn him of a sour political future.)

This is the reason why he found it hard to acknowledge the country of origin of Dr Stella Immanuel, the African woman whose hydroxychloroquine-promoting video went viral last week. The woman had wrongly dismissed the use of face masks to combat the coronavirus. In the video, recorded in Washington, she was surrounded by other American doctors who were conspicuously not wearing any face mask – an evidence that they supported the religious side of the debate. Immanuel is also a pastor; founder of Texas-based Pentecostal church, Firepower Ministries.

The US president tweeted a version of the video, while his son, Donald Trump Jr., had his Twitter account restricted by the company for 12 hours after calling the video a “must watch”. At a White House press conference, Trump described Immanuel and her anti-face mask team as “America’s Frontline Doctors”.

While reacting to a journalist who pointed out to him that the pastor-doctor is also a conspiracy theorist, an agitated Trump replied: “Maybe it’s the same [person], maybe it’s not, but I can tell you this. She was on air along with many other doctors. They were big fans of hydroxychloroquine and I thought she was very impressive in the sense that, from where she came – I don’t know which country she comes from – but she said that she’s had tremendous success with hundreds of different patients… And I thought her voice was an important voice, but I know nothing about her.”

Interestingly, the woman – a full-blooded black African – clearly mentioned, in the viral video, that she was raised and trained in West Africa, but Trump did not want to acknowledge this because of what he had said about the continent in the past. With his palpable superior stance on intellectual matters, it was obvious that the journalist who asked the question was waiting for Trump to concede that Africa was offering to help.



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[VIDEO] RevolutionNow: How the police clamped down on protesters


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOqQx4H4D3I

No fewer than 33 states have yet to begin the implementation of the new hazard allowance for resident doctors, despite their risk of contracting COVID-19.

The Secretary of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, Dr Bilqis Mohammed, in a WhatsApp message sent to one of our correspondents, listed states that had started paying the allowance as Lagos, Ogun, Nasarawa and Enugu.

But there was confusion over the payment of the hazard allowance in Ogun State. Contrary to the claim of the national body, the NARD in the state-owned Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu said its members were not being paid hazard allowance.

But the Enugu State branch of the association confirmed to The PUNCH that its members had started receiving the allowance.

Also on Tuesday, the number of nurses and resident doctors, who had contracted COVID-19, rose to 854.

The NARD secretary said while 319 resident doctors had contracted COVID-19, 14 of them had died of the virus.

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives said 535 of its members had contracted the deadly virus.

Recall that the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnibe Mamora, had, on April 27 at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said the Federal Government had approved a special incentive which included hazard allowance, insurance and tax rebates for health workers.

Mamora said, “The Federal Government agreed to shelve the payment of the existing N5,000 hazard allowance, which had been in existence since 1991. In its place, a special COVlD-19 hazard and inducement allowance of 50 per cent of the consolidated basic salary is to be paid to all health workers in all the Federal Government teaching hospitals and federal medical centres and her designated COVlD-19 centres and primary health care centres to last for the first three months in the first instance.

“Forty per cent of consolidated basic salary would be paid as special COVlD-19 hazard and inducement allowance to health workers at special non-public hospitals and clinics in the federal ministries, departments and agencies for same three months’ period.”

Resident doctors had in June embarked on a strike to protest the non-implementation of the hazard allowance despite the agreement they signed with the Federal Government.

On Saturday, the NARD gave government an August 17 deadline to meet its demand.

The NARD National President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, in an interview with The PUNCH, said it was unfortunate that the Federal Government tricked resident doctors to call off their recent strike with the hope that the hazard allowance would be paid.

He said, “The Federal Government paid two months allowance during the strike. Some of our members got it. Some did not get it. Immediately we called off the strike, they stopped the payment of the allowance.

“We are even more concerned about the Federal Government because we know if they start paying, the states would obey too.”

Most of our members still being paid N5,000 hazard allowance – Association

Giving further explanations, the NARD Publicity Secretary, Dr Stanley Egbogu, said “The Majority of the states still pay N5,000 hazard allowance. States like Abia are still owing doctors 16 months’ salaries.”

What we get is below FG’s recommendation – Enugu resident doctors

In Enugu State, medical doctors employed the state government have started receiving hazard medical allowance.

The General Secretary of the ARD in the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Chukwunoso Ofonere, confirmed the payment to one of our correspondents in a telephone conversation.

Although Ofonere said the state government started the hazard allowance payment about three months ago, he regretted that the payment was below the Federal Government’s recommendation.

He said, “Yes, ARD ESUT receives hazard allowance, but not according to the Federal Government’s recommendation. The Federal Government recommended 50 per cent of basic salary as hazard allowance.

“That is what we should receive, but we’re receiving 25 per cent, which is half of what the Federal Government is paying. But notwithstanding, the Enugu State Government is one of the states governments that are paying hazard allowance.”

Ofonere noted that the hazard allowance was being paid to all health workers in the state.

What we have received is not hazard allowance – Ogun doctors

On its part, the ARD at the OOUTH said it had yet to receive hazard allowance .

The Secretary of the ARD at the OOUTH, Dr Tope Osundara disclosed this on Tuesday, while responding to an enquiry from one of our correspondents on whether resident doctors had started receiving the allowance or not.

Osundara said the NARD members had only collected 300 per cent of the former N5,000 hazard allowance, which he said was N15,000.

He said what the association requested was 50 per cent of the consolidated basic salary.

He said, “Fifty per cent of the consolidated basic salary is the hazard allowance we requested, but government is paying N15,000 naira which is 300 per cent of the initial 5,000 naira hazard allowance they were paying .

“Government hasn’t started the implementation of the 50 per cent of consolidated basic salary. They haven’t been paying any doctor in Ogun State .

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“The hazard allowance we have received so far is just 300 per cent. We haven’t received anything other than that.”

We have started paying it, Ogun govt insists

But the state government, which spoke through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan, said it had commenced the payment of new hazard allowance for all medical workers.

Hazzan said Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration met N5,000 hazard allowance when it assumed office and increased to N15,000 which is 300 per cent .

He however said the new agitation of the resident doctors might force the government to go back to the drawing board.

535 nurses contract COVID-19

In a related development, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Abdulrafiu Adeniji, said out of 1,350 nurses tested for COVID-19, 535 were confirmed positive.



Punch Newspapers
Credit: Friday Olokor, Dayo Ojerinde, Daud Olatunji and Raphael Ede

THIS WILL BE LOUD

Carchoice:
I was at shoprite yesterday evening, I bought other stuffs and 10 packs of durex condom. At the point of payment, all the stuffs I shopped were on the counter and all eyes were on it. I could hear murmurs and giggles. Even a lady I perceived to be a baby mama sef join dey laugh.

As a careless Nigerian that I am, I went back to the condom shelve and added 5 more packs. E shock them.

Why the hypocrisy? For the background they are sharing HIV and donating pregnancy here and there.

LEAVE, LET THEM SAY.





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References:
https://guardian.ng/news/gory-sights-as-cooking-gas-explosion-hits-ajao-estate-in-lagos/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXB8wS3rH7U


https://twitter.com/Gidi_Traffic/status/1288192507977834501?s=19

The Lagos Fire Service is on ground already.

MAY THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED REST IN PEACE

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

INDEED


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NOTED

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another feat conquered by a Nigerian blood

bad belle people

start looking forward, and try as much as possible to delete the past from your memory.
it's not real, believe me.
even if it looks real in your mind, train back your mind to move on to the next level
Call a relationship counselor or go for a vacation in a new environment for 1 month and engage yourself with new activities.

do these above mentioned and thank me Later.

Dont forget to also check my signature for farm fresh chicken @ affordable rates & flexible delivery to your location within Lagos

start looking forward, and try as much as possible to delete the past from your memory.
it's not real, believe me.
even if it looks real in your mind, train back your mind to move on to the next level
Call a relationship counselor or go for a vacation in a new environment for 1 month and engage yourself with new activities.

do these above mentioned and thank me Later.

Dont forget to also check my signature

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of two policemen, Assistant Superintendent of Police Tijani Olatunji and Inspector Gboyega Oyeniyi, for allegedly subjecting a suspected robber’s girlfriend to dehumanising treatment at the man’s house in the Ibadan area of Oyo State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, said efforts were on to arrest another cop and a yet-to-be-identified civilian involved in the incident.

Mba, however, said the officers were on legitimate duties.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the police team had been on the trail of the suspect, who was traced from Lagos to his house in Ibadan, where he was arrested.

His girlfriend, who identified herself simply as Towobola, was also arrested.

One of the policemen, identified only as Wyclef, filmed himself interrogating Towobola and the suspect.

In the undated footage of the incident posted by one Olayinka Olaonipekun on Twitter, the alleged criminal said, “I was arrested at home. People should be patient, do the right thing and follow the law.”

The lady, while wailing and pleading with Wyclef that she was unaware of the suspect’s atrocities, said she only paid him a visit on the day of the arrest.

However, Wyclef and his colleagues, including one Gboyega, made sexist remarks against the 25-year-old.

Wyclef in particular accused her of being a prostitute, as she pleaded her innocence.

“Why did you leave your former boyfriend that you are having sex with to follow an armed robber?” he demanded.

She replied, “I don’t have a boyfriend. You can check my phone. I just finished serving as a corper and collected my NYSC discharge certificate three days ago.”

Wyclef further asked, “Why did you break up with the person that deflowered you?”

She said, “He broke up with me himself because we used to fight a lot,” as the cop interjected, saying it was because she was promiscuous.

The policeman said, “If he (suspected robber) doesn’t have money and car, will you have an affair with him?”

“I do business and it is because he said he wants to buy shoes from me; please, I am begging you to stop recording me,” she replied.

She also denied Wyclef’s claim that she passed the night at the suspect’s house, saying she only visited “to assist him in cooking.”

“Are you saying he has not had sex with you since you met?” Wyclef asked.

“It was today that he attempted, but it didn’t happen, you can ask him,” she replied.

Wyclef later faced the camera and boasted that he “catches suspects like fowls”.

Nigerians, who took to the social media on Thursday, described the cops’ questions and treatment of the woman as discriminatory and unprofessional.

Olaonipekun, who posted the video through her Twitter handle, @olayinkaolaoni1, said, “Even if she’s guilty, what sort of questions and harassment is this?”

The Nigeria Police, in a tweet on Wednesday, said investigation had commenced into the incident.

In a follow-up reaction on Thursday, the police spokesman, Mba, said two of the policemen, Olatunji and Gboyega, had been arrested, adding that the suspects were being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, Lagos State.

“Following investigations into the dehumanising treatment of a female citizen as shown in a viral video on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, the Nigeria Police Force has identified three police officers and one civilian accomplice who participated in the unprofessional act.

“Two suspects, ASP Tijani Olatunji and Inspector Gboyega Oyeniyi, have been arrested for their role in the discreditable conduct and incivility to a member of the public. They are currently being detained at the Lagos State CID detention facility, Yaba.

“Preliminary investigations show that the policemen, who are attached to Area ‘A’ Command, Lion Building, Lagos, were on legitimate investigation activities in Ibadan, Oyo State, where the incident took place. Effort is being intensified to arrest two other accomplices.

“Meanwhile, appropriate disciplinary procedure will be initiated as soon as investigations are concluded,” Mba said.


By:
Eniola Akinkuotu, Deji Lambo and Wale Oyewale
The Punch

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday pushed back against some of the conspiracy theories spreading online accusing him of creating the coronavirus outbreak.

“It’s a bad combination of pandemic and social media and people looking for a very simple explanation,” the Microsoft founder said during a CNN Town Hall interview.

Doctored photos and fabricated news articles crafted by conspiracy theorists – shared thousands of times on social media platforms and messaging apps, in various languages – targeting Gates have gained traction online since the start of the pandemic.

A video accusing Gates of wanting “to eliminate 15 percent of the population” through vaccination and electronic microchips has racked up millions of views on YouTube.

“Our foundation has given more money to buy vaccines to save lives than any group,” Gates said, referring to his eponymous foundation.

He has pledged $250 million in efforts to fight the pandemic, and his foundation has spent billions of dollars improving health care in developing countries over the past 20 years.

“So you just turn that around. You say, ok, we’re making money and we’re trying to kill people with vaccines or by inventing something,” Gates continued.

“And at least it’s true, we’re associated with vaccines, but you actually have sort of flipped the connection,” he said, adding he hopes the conspiracies don’t generate “vaccine hesitancy.”

Since the start of the crisis, AFP Fact Check has debunked dozens of anti-Gates rumors circulating on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram in languages including English, French, Spanish, Polish and Czech.

A number of accusations, including posts claiming that the FBI arrested Gates for biological terrorism or that he supports a Western plot to poison Africans, share a common thread.



They accuse the tycoon of exploiting the crisis, whether it is to “control people” or make money from selling vaccines.



“I’m a big believer in getting the truth out,” Gates told CNN.

It is not the first time Gates has found himself targeted by conspiracy theorists. When Zika virus broke out in 2015 in Brazil, he was one of several powerful Western figures blamed for the disease.

Other rumors claim he is secretly a lizard, an old favorite among online trolls.

AFP

7 YEARS

BILLION DOLLARS AGAIN?

LOL