While millions of people all over the world show empathy for those who have tested positive to COVID-19, many Nigerians are mocking their leaders who have tested positive.
Some of the 46 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 in Nigeria are high political office holders or their relatives. These include the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari; the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed; the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye; and Mohammed, a son of opposition leader Atiku Abubakar.
Many others, including several state governors, are on self-isolation after coming in contact with those infected.
Many of the Nigerians who have mocked the politically exposed persons who tested positive based their stance on the poor governance the country has witnessed from different governments.
Although blessed with crude oil and other natural resources, majority of Nigeria’s estimated 180 million people live in poverty, according to World Poverty Clock. The country also lacks basic amenities like constant electricity, good roads, good public schools and quality hospitals. President Buhari and his family members often travel to the UK for medical treatment, an indication of the poor state of the country’s hospitals.
For many Nigerians, the situation is so because of corruption and inept leadership, and for that reason, they are unwilling to show empathy with leaders who are sick.
Award-winning author, Elnathan John’s outburst on Twitter summarised this view. “Actually, you know what? Fuck Nigerian politicians. All of them. Including the ones who are sick. And fuck empathy. They are murderers. Every single person who dies because there wasn’t a ventilator or equipped hospital is on them. Fuck prayers for these fuckers. I reserve my best wishes and prayers for people who are victims of these demons who run this evil regime. Who will be fucked if they need Healthcare in Nigeria. Who have nowhere to go. We will all die. And karma ain’t shit. But these fuckers deserve to pay for their evil,” he wrote.
For investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, the politicians deserve what they get.
“As many Nigerian politicians and career officers who have joined in siphoning funds that should’ve gone into building our healthcare, I want Coronavirus to quickly locate them. But I don’t want any of them to die. Just a few days of reality check that we’re all in this mess together,” he wrote on Twitter.
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