INTRODUCTION

I have written extensively in the last three weeks about the history of plagues (pandemics), even from prehistoric times. The corona virus or Covid-19 is therefore not new. It will be defeated like its malignant and corrosive predecessors. But, it has changed the entire face of mother earth as we know it.

THE SCRIPTURES

Indeed, Joshua 1:9 represents what will happen to the virus/ let us see: C=Christ; O=Over; V=Virus; D=Diseases; 19=Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good course; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever”. Covid-19, pack and go. Leave us alone.

EARLIER PREDICTIONS BY SAGES

From the scriptures, you can see that Covid-19 is not new. As of fact, it was predicted by Michel Nostradamus, the 16th century physician, who is believed to have predicted many world events. He wrote 942 quatrains, predicting the future. The 16th century physician had accurately predicted the outbreak of World War 2 and the Great Fire of London in 1666. He is said to have predicted the coronavirus threat over 500 years ago. He said: “There will be a twin year (2020) from which will arise a queen (corona) who will come from the east (China) and who will spread a plague (virus) in the darkness of night, on a country with 7 hills (Italy) and will transform the twilight of men into dust (death), to destroy and ruin the world. It will be the end of the world economy as you know it”. Dean Koontz, at page 312 of his 1981 book, “The Eyes of Darkness” wrote: “In around 2020, a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments. Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later, and disappear completely”.

BUSH AND OBAMA

In 2005 and 2014, two former American presidents, George Bush and Barrack Obama, respectively warned of an impending dangerous pandemic that required urgent measures.

GEORGE BUSH’S 2005 CALL

Fifteen years ago, the American president, George Bush, had read a book on the Spanish influenza which caused him to summon top officials demanding the country prepared for a pandemic. The national plan drawn up at the time was said to have included, inter alia, diagrams for a global early warning system, funding to develop new, rapid vaccine technology, and a robust national stockpile of critical supplies, such as face masks and ventilators.

That plan was never used; till COVID-19 broke out like a thief in the night. A video clip of Bush speaking at the National Institutes of Health in November, 2005, has since resurfaced. He said, amongst others:

“There is no pandemic flu in our country or in the world at this time but if we wait for a pandemic to appear it will be too late to prepare and one day many lives could be needlessly lost because we failed to act today. By preparing today we can give our citizens some peace of mind knowing that our nation is ready to act at the first sign of danger. And that we have the plans in place to prevent and if necessary withstand and influence the pandemic.”

BARACK OBAMA

Nine years later, another US president, Barack Hussein Obama, warned in 2014 (albeit, addressing the Ebola pandemic then):

“We were lucky with H1N1 that it did not prove to be more deadly. We can’t say we are lucky with Ebola because obviously it’s having a devastating effect in West Africa but it is not airborne in its transmission.

They may and likely will come a time in which we have likely both an airborne disease that is deadly. And in order for us to deal with that effectively, we have to put in place an infrastructure – not just here at home but globally – that allows us to see it see it quickly, isolate it quickly, respond to it quickly.

So that if and when a new strain of flu like the Spanish flu, crops up five years from now, or a decade from now, we’ve made the investment and we are further along to be able to catch it. It is a smart investment for us to make”.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI

Former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, is on record to have addressed the United Nations in 2009 during the world body’s 64th General Assembly in New York. Gaddafi broke protocol by stretching his 15-minute speech to 90 minutes. He said, inter alia:

“We are addressing the phenomena of piracy and terrorism in the wrong way. Today there is swine flu. Perhaps tomorrow there will be fish flu, because sometimes we produce viruses by controlling them. It is a commercial business. Capitalist companies produce viruses so that they can generate and sell vaccinations.

“That is very shameful and poor ethics. Vaccinations and medicine should not be sold. In The Green Book, I maintain that medicines should not be sold or subject to commercialization.

“Medicines should be free of charge and vaccinations given free to children, but capitalist companies produce the viruses and vaccinations and want to make a profit. Why are they not free of charge? We should give them free of charge, and not sell them.

“The entire world should strive to protect our people, create and manufacture vaccinations and give them free to children and women, and not profit by them. All those items are on the agenda of the General Assembly, which has only to exercise that duty.”

NOW THIS

OTHER WRITERS

A creative writer, emphasizing the importance of staying at home, wrote: “Queen Elizabeth II has survived: the plague; Smallpox; Malaria; Nazi rule in Germany; World War 2; destruction of Berlin; partition of Berlin; creation of Israel; partition of India; Korean War; Vietnam war; unification of Berlin; strife in Palestine; invasion of Egypt; Arab-Israeli War; Cold War; Iran-Iraq War; First Gulf War; disintegration of Soviet Union; Britain joining the EU; 9/11; Second Gulf War; Britain leaving the EU; Apollo 1-17; revolutions in Africa; 14 British Prime Ministers; Charles and Diana; Charles and Camilla; Andrew and Fergie; Harry and Megan; 14 American Presidents; 7 Saudi Kings; 48 Italian Prime Ministers; 9 UN Secretary-Generals; 3rd, 4th, and 5th French Republics; Mad Cow Disease; Brexit; Meghxit; the Internet; Apple TV; Netflix and Covid 19. Only because she rarely leaves her palace. Keep safe. Stay at home.”

HOW COVID-19 HAS CHANGED THE WORLD

Another writer said: “Who would have believed that the Italian delegation present in Somalia whose residents permit ended, have refused to return to Italy and asked the Somali government to renew their residency? Who would have believed that the Somali Prime Minister, who left Somalia to live in Britain after the end of his rule fearing for his life, died yesterday in Britain from the Coronavirus? Who would have believed that following Trump’s separation wall between America and Mexico to prevent illegal immigration of Mexicans, Mexico is currently closing it and rejecting American immigrants coming to their country? Who would have believed that just two months ago, Spain was suffering from illegal immigration boats coming to it from all the countries of Africa through Morocco but currently, the boats sail the opposite, with illegal immigration boats carrying Spanish immigrants trying to enter Morocco? Who would have believed that the strongest army and the strongest economy in the world would be in fear? Who would have believed that Masjids would be closed and one of the pillars of Islam (Hajj), suspended, while the call for prayers is lifted in the non Islamic countries where it was first prohibited? Who would have believed that the Qur’an would be recited at the White House after they described Islam as a religion of terrorism? Who would have believed that the doctor treating the patient dies and the patient lives?

Who would have believed that all doctors, in the entire world, would prescribe natural remedies in treatment? Today, they all seek to prescribe all that is natural to raise immunity. If this was said three months ago, would anyone of us have believed?”

AND THIS

ABBA KYARI – A MAJOR VICTIM OF COVID-19

The death of Abba Kyari saddens me. It saddens me because of his apparently negative place in history, as I behold many Nigerians gloat over his death. I will not. Death follows us about like our shadow. We must all die one day. The questions are when, where, why and how? The bigger question is, what legacies do we leave in the hearts of the people we meet or govern during our lives? Abba Kyari was not just the power behind the throne and the heartbeat of government. He was, indeed, the dejure president, the arrow-head of the infamous cabal that ruthlessly misgoverns Nigeria with ferocious and brutal mercilessness. Oh Allah, forgive him his sins and grant him Alijanah Firdausi. Ameen (To be continued next week).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” (Chuck Palahniuk).

LAST LINE

Nigerians, keep hope alive as we shall, individually and collectively, defeat Covid-19, in Jesus mighty name. Keep faith with The Nigerian Project every Sunday, with Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, Ph.D., FCIArb, LL.D.