Thread by @ChidiOdinkalu

#Africa between the Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn has bn fortunate so far wth confirmed cases of the virus that Zimbabwe's @edmnangagwa complains didn't give notice. But while #COVID19 notice period marinates, what have the continent's rulers done? THREAD
zanupf.org.zw/covid19-is-no-…

If anything, u cld say West Africa got a bit of a #headstart in pandemic virus management with exposure to the #EbolaVirusDisease, #EVD, 5 yrs ago. Sierra Leone, Guinea-Conakry & #Nigeria were 3 countries in the region that saw #EVD up close. So how have the prepared?

U can choose where u begin but Sierra Leone is as good a place as any: it was epicentre of another virus, Ebola, just 5 yrs ago. While #COVID19 was processing entry visa in China, on 21 Feb, @PresidentBio decided to wed a 2nd time a wife he wedded in 2013

cocorioko.net/the-maada-bio-…

The day after @PresidentBio did his lavish wedding in Freetown, on 22 Feb, Italy reported its 23rd #COVID19 case. As that happened, the Govt of Sierra Leone #GoSL under him announced they were not interested in the fate or wellbeing of the #EbolaSurvivors. #NoLessonsLearnt.

While the #GoSL was busy frittering away the lessons from #EVD & alienating those who survived, in Guinea, 82 yo @PresidentConde, has only 1 thing on his mind - to mummify himself in office & make himself Guinea's #LifePresident.

Not for @President_GN, any sovereign psychosis over #COVID19. His eyes are firmly fixed on rigging the referendum today to make him Guinea's #LifePresident. To ensure it's well rigged, Guinea will conveniently cut Internet & phone services this week-end

africanews.com/2020/03/20/cov…

In #Nigeria, while the #EVD raged n 2014-15, Gen. @MBuhari, like Brig-Gen @PresidentBio in Freetown, was an opposition politician touting non-existent skills to offer something positively different. The ppl bought his pitch & chose to entrust him with power to effect #Change.

So, how have things changed under Gen MBuhari? Well, ignoring #COVID19, he chose to go fishing in Argungu. When he returned to Abuja, his priority was to open a large building. All the while, he's decided he can't be seen or heard on #COVID19.

punchng.com/coronavirus-bu…

Elsewhere on the continent, @MBuhari's paternalistic indifference is not good enough for Malawi's President, @PeterMutharika. Last year, he rigged the presidential election. He was caught & last month the courts ordered a new vote.

voanews.com/africa/malawi-…

While the world averts its gaze, with all political & diplomatic bandwidth consumed with #COVID19, @PeterMutharika is busy rearranging the landscape to rig again. Unlike #Nigeria, where @HQNigerianArmy sees enemies in NGOs, Mutharika thinks NGOs & soldiers are 1 & the same.

So, using #COVID19 as cover, President @PeterMutharika has fired the highly respected Army Chief, detained vocal #HumanRightsDefenders & is ransacking NGOs - all so he can rig the same election 2ice.

freedomhouse.org/article/malawi…

President @PeterMutharika is younger brother to Malawi's 3rd President, Ngwazi Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in 2013 despite the close attentions of #Nigerian shaman, TB Joshua & was buried in an advanced state of putrefaction. Do we ever learn?!

opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2017/03/01/177…