STATES CAN NOW BE AUTONOMOUS – THANKS TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC!

ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.  

(LOOKING AT NIGERIA'S POLITICAL SYSTEM FROM A GODLY PERSPECTIVE).

A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church Kpeyegyi Abuja Nigeria {Vol. 9.NO 351. 3rd May, 2020.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You  Free! (John.8:32). . PRAY & FAST EVERY WEDNESDAY TO STOP BLOODSHED IN NIGERIA!

STATES CAN NOW BE AUTONOMOUS – THANKS TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC!

There is no gainsaying that Covid-19 pandemic is bad Omen! Its reckless global spread of trail of tears, woes, pains, anguish, calamities and scores of painful deaths for over four months in more than 202 countries, are beyond human comprehension!
But in all of that, Nigeria’s 36 States have been favoured to gain total autonomy through the pandemic centrifugal force which has moved them away from the Federal Government’s overbearing autocratic tendencies of pseudo presidential system! The States did not wait for handouts to address the parasitic outbreak but synergized their teams of highly efficient health and security workers to promptly isolate infected carriers, trace their contacts and sealed of all entry points, closed land borders and declared state of emergency on the notorious plague !
LAGOS, the metropolitan city and commercial capital of Nigeria as our case study was at “red alert” from the moment rumours of escalating spread of the pandemic from China to Europe and the United States, filtered into Nigeria, late January, 2020, and wasted no effort in intensifying health/sanitation checks at all ports (air, land and sea), to detect the health status of all migrants to Nigeria! Health/security personnel including volunteers from CSO/MDAs, were fully mobilised to intervene and bring their professional expertise to bear on the looming disaster even before Federal Government relevant agencies could  muster any move! The same boldness and determination to save the masses was replicated by all States of the Federation to ensure that the nation was not filled with parasitic virus casualties of uncontrollable proportion!

It is on record that all governors dug into the coffers of their governments to equip the Police, Armed Forces, all para-military groups with necessary scientific gears -  ventilators, fumigators, mobile disinfectant equipments, Personal Protective Equipments [PPEs], face masks, automobiles, trucks, ambulances, boats, modern communication equipments, etc, without rushing to Abuja with “feeding bottles” to collect STIPENDS when the matter on hand was of life or death nature!

ALTHOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EVENTUALLY WOKE UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES – STATES ALREADY WON THE DAY!
All security agencies, the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, the Civilian JTF, the para-military Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), worked in synergy and in cooperation with State Governors without reverting to the Inspector General or the Chief of Defence Staff for any “ORDER FROM ABOVE”, in such emergency situations which commanded uttermost urgency! Luckily for all States, their Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs), and exclusive SECURITY VOTES of Governors could no longer be hidden from the people but released to support urgent health issues of all the afflicted victims of the Covid-19 pandemic in their domain!
In RIVERS STATE, two private aviation pilots and some senior international oil workers who flew into the State on Federal Government assignment but without official State clearance were promptly arrested by both Police and Military operatives on the orders of the State Governor, detained and arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction until diplomatic channels were opened to amicably resolve the very sensitive matter!

IT IS NOW MORE URGENT FOR PRESIDENT BUHARI TO BEGIN CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES THAT WOULD ESTABLISH DEVOLUTION OF POWERS FROM THE EXCLUSIVE LEGISLATIVE LIST TO THE CONCURRENT,   FISCAL FEDERALISM AND REVENUE ALLOCATION, ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE POLICE, RESOURCE CONTROL OF MINERAL EXTRACTION, DERIVATION PRINCIPLE, INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY AND REFERENDUM, ETC, WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN GOVERNOR EL RUFAI COMMITTEE ON RESTRUCTURING OF THE FEDERATION, SHOULD COMMENCE FROM POST-COVID-19 ERA WITHOUT DELAY!

Contrary to political pundit misgivings that State Governors would abuse their authority and exclusive control over security agency such as the Police, We believe to the contrary that the BRAND NEW CONSTITUTION of our advocacy would provide for checks and balances that would present any such abuse of power!

A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY MUST BE SET UP NOW TO DRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

EL RUFAI COMMITTEE ALSO RECOMMENDED REFERENDUM AS ALTERNATIVE TO POLITICAL DEBATES: The need for referendum to decide serious national issues is very key to all recommendations mentioned earlier can neither be sidelined nor dismissed if the desired masses-oriented result would been accomplished! Constitutional amendments have failed to see the light of the day and as such is completely ruled out for Buhari to achieve his goals to leave behind, sterling legacies that would cast his name  in gold after his exit in 2023!

NCDC AS THE ENGINE ROOM OF SYNERGY BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS!
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), had been up and doing since March and have sent professional teams to assist the States Medical and Security outfits, especially in the areas of enforcement of law and order on social/physical distancing, overcrowding in vehicles, market places, shopping malls, churches, mosques, including the establishment of Presidential Task Force Mobile Courts, following a Federal Government’s total lock down on all commercial activities in Lagos, Ogun and FCT Abuja, from 30th March, 2020 to Monday, 4th May, 2020, when some PHASES of gradual relaxation for economic activities to pick up, would commence!
The Federal Government has forwarded monetary donations to some States and encouraged patriotic citizens/organisations to equally support with finances, medical supplies, goods and services even as attention is being focussed on KANO STATE, another cosmopolitan city and economic and commercial nerve centre in North West, Nigeria where mysterious deaths have been on the increase outside of coronavirus pandemic!
AS AT SATURDAY, 2ND MAY, 2020, COVID-19 PANDEMIC CASUALTY FIGURES IN NIGERIA STOOD AS FOLLOWS:
Confirmed cases: 2,388. Deaths: 85. Recovered: 385.
CASES OF COVID-19 ACROSS THE WORLD.
Cases: 3,544,873. Deaths: 247,170. Recovered: 1,148,306.
CASES ACROSS AFRICA. Confirmed cases: 42, 769. Deaths. 14,129.

PHASE ONE OF THE POST-LOCK DOWN PERIOD IN LAGOS, OGUN AND ABUJA. [4TH-17TH MAY, 2020].
Include but not limited to the following instructions, general rule and regulations:
*Mandatory use of non-medical face mask/covering for all persons while in public spaces.
Mandatory provision of hand washing facilities/sanitizers in all public places.
All inter-state travel is prohibited except for essential travels and services such as: Transportation of agricultural products, petroleum products, relief items, goods, commodities related to the Covid-19 response and persons on essential duties.
Mass gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace is prohibited.
There will be controlled access to markets and locations of economic activities.
Mandatory temperature checks will be conducted in public spaces.
Social distancing of 2 metres must be maintained between people in workplaces and other public spaces.
Retention of the ban on all passenger flights.
Religious gatherings are still restricted.
Mandatory supervised isolation of person(s) arriving from outside the country for at least 14 days.
Anyone who presents a temperature of 380c will be mandated to return home and call NCDC for evaluation.
ANYONE WITHOUT A FACE MASK/COVERING WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN HOME AND WILL BE PROSECUTED.
ANYONE VIOLATING OVERNIGHT CURFEW [BETWEEN 8PM-6AM] IN A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION WILL BE PROSECUTED.
Taxis to carry 4 Passengers [driver and 3 persons]
Tri-cycles to carry only 3 persons [driver and 2 persons].
Travel should be between 6am-6pm and hand sanitizers should be provided for all passengers.
BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WILL OPEN BETWEEN 6AM AND 6PM, AND ENSURE HAND SANITIZERS TO EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.
Persons above age of 65 years and those with underlying chronic illness eg. Diabetes, high blood pressure are advised to stay home.
ABATTOIRS TO OPEN 3 DAYS A WEEK; SUPER MARKETS, 8AM-3PM; RESTAURANTS: NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC –ENCOURAGE HOME DELIVERY, ALL ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS WILL REMAIN CLOSED!
CLUBS, BARS BEER PARLOURS, GARDENS, COMMUNAL SPORTS, CONCERTS, SOCIAL PARTIES RECREATIONAL PARKS
STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE WAIVERS AS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE MOVEMENT.
We implore all persons to comply with all instructions and regulations which are intended for the safety and well-being to shield everyone from the deadly virus. We have had enough of untimely deaths.
Covid-19 is already on its way out. Collective/civil disobedience should not be allowed to keep it longer! A word is enough for the wise!

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com,

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08098194390.  08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.