Take Away From The COVID-19 Pandemic by Ojesola Itunu.
November 2019, a spectacular month that will remain evergreen in the hearts of humanity. For in this month, the world played host to an extemporaneous visitor which brought it to a standstill. It started as an epidemic in the city of Wuhan and metamorphosed that found its way into Nigeria on February 27, 2020 This pandemic, which in common parlance is referred to as COVID-19, brought the world to a momentary cessation, turned facemask to our daily apparel and continuously confines us to our domiciles. It is indeed a threat to our hope, freedom, and unity. Day after day, we are glued to our screens, waiting solemnly like rams being led to the slaughterhouse, for the next bombshell about the seemingly in-exorable rise in the number of infections to be dropped. It has proven to be a thorn in our flesh and a barrier to national progress, as economists have gravely forewarned about the woes that besiege our economy after this pandemic, that even after the frenzied war against this unseen enemy, our country is faced with the risk of plunging into the abyss of economic ruins! Oh! We are totally lost in the gloomy climate of this pandemic and are frantically struggling to get back on our feet. Furthermore , the emergence of this global pandemic has left many destitute, as individuals who could previously boast of three square meals a day now struggle just to afford a miserable meal , many have lost their jobs and are left to the mercy of hunger which is now emblazoned on the forehead of our nation, thus most individuals are left with no option than to get onto the streets and pitifully beg for alms, while some individuals blindly resort to criminality and continuously throw many families into agony. However, due to the plethora of scientific knowledge at the disposal of man today, there is the hope that in no distant time, this common enemy will be defeated. Although, the havocs wrecked by this pandemic may take up to a lifetime to be rectified, it has helped to enlighten us on the need for a radical departure from the primitive ideas that have from time immemorial proven to be the problems of this generation, thereby making it opium for this dying generation. Firstly , this pandemic eliminated all barriers which have been the basis for discrimination in the past, as all and sundry are at the mercy of this pandemic, such that every nation has to depend on another for one assistance or the other, thereby accentuating the fact that inter- dependencies are indispensable.. In addition, a slogan that has become ubiquitous goes thus, “You protect me, and I protect you” further emphasizes the need to collectively take preventive measures against COVID-19, as failure of someone in this regard will result in an astronomical increase in the transmission and continued prevalence of this pandemic. This further highlights the beauty that exists in our collective humanity. Also, because of the pandemic, we continue to hear the cries of innocent citizens for justice due to the spike in criminality, occasioned by the ruptured value system of the offenders. This implies that any action taken by an individual will not only have a resultant effect on him but the entire populace. It is no news that some countries of the world continue to receive donations and support from various organizations and individuals to ease the stress of combating the pandemic, there is no gainsaying that they are currently enjoying the merits of their efficient relationships in the pre COVID-19 era, while some countries so far have received little or no donations due to their feeble relationship status and thus are left to wander un-aided in the gloomy weather of this pandemic, as they cannot reap where they have not sown. Without mincing words, this pandemic has left an indelible mark on all facets of human endeavors and served as an eye opener in various ramifications, it will forever remain evergreen in our minds. We hope that we are almost out of this tunnel; we all need to stay safe and come together in order to win this war as one and live to tell the story. Ojesola Itunu wrote in via ojesolaitunu@gmail.com
