News
Trump’s Coronavirus Infection: result of his deadly, foolish recklessness
By: The Times Editorial Board
Americans awaken this morning to the grave news that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the dreadful coronavirus that has killed more than 207,000 people in the U.S. and brought the U.S. economy to its knees.
The news came the way that so much of the news from the White House does: in a tweet early Friday from the president himself. Trump wrote that he and the first lady had tested positive for the coronavirus (he noticeably did not call it the “China virus”) and declared: “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
No matter how you feel about Trump’s performance as president — and we feel pretty strongly that it has been a disaster — this is another crisis for a nation reeling from a year that almost seems apocalyptic: Trump’s impeachment, COVID-19, a popular outcry over racial injustice, the deaths of John Lewis and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, catastrophic wildfires. And now this: A reckless president whose irresponsibility has endangered not only himself and his family but the stability of the country by throwing the executive branch into chaos. Another crisis, this one fully of Trump’s own making.
Furthermore, how many others in the White House have been infected? We have now learned that one of Trump’s closest aides, Hope Hicks, experienced symptoms and tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday. Astonishingly, Trump went ahead with an indoor fundraiser at his New Jersey golf club. Considering the lack of regard Trump and his aides have shown for the simple infection-control measures of social distancing and face masks, there’s no telling how many other people working in critical White House roles may have been infected.
In a way, this outcome was inevitable. From the start, Trump has downplayed the severity of the coronavirus, dismissing it as no more than the flu even when he knew full well that it was a serious threat. While other nations were launching serious and sustained testing and tracing responses to keep the spread of the virus in check, Trump dithered.
Worse still, the president politicized the pandemic, contradicting and sidelining his own health officials when they said things he didn’t want to hear. He undermined the federal agencies charged with fighting infectious diseases, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and urged governors to lift restrictions and reopen schools before state and local authorities deemed it safe. He packed unmasked supporters into rallies and shared so much bad information, pushing untested and questionable treatments, that a Cornell University study released Thursday pointed to Trump as the single largest driver of coronavirus misinformation. There’s no telling how many people have gotten sick or even died because of the president’s irresponsible actions. (After Trump bizarrely suggested that ingesting bleach might help, poison control centers reported a spike in calls.)
Apparently, Trump managed to even convince himself that the coronavirus was no big deal — rarely wearing a face mask in public and shamefully mocking those who do. During the first presidential debate on Tuesday, Trump derided former Vice President Joe Biden for wearing “the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.” Despicable.
Of course, we hope that the president and the first lady recover swiftly and fully — just as we hope the same for anyone unfortunate enough to be infected by a potentially deadly virus for which there is no cure or effective treatment. The odds are in his favor that they will, and not just because they will receive better healthcare than is available to most Americans. Most of those who are sickened with COVID-19 do recover, though it can take weeks for severe cases and though many people experience continuing ill effects.
- Furthermore, we hope that this crisis will act as an object lesson for the nation about the dangers of pretending the coronavirus isn’t a real threat. If the most protected man in America can be infected, so can we all.
News
Remember there’s a God of second chance” – Ooni tells inmates during visit to Kuje Correctional Centre
The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday, kickstarted his annual coronation anniversary with a humanitarian visit to the Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
According to Director of Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch told the inmates to always remember that God created everyone and that he’ss the God of second chance.
Ooni Ogunwusi was on an official duty in the F.C.T. when he decided to visit inmates at the facility for a programme organized by Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) under his Chairmanship to motivate those who are often ignored by the society.
Addressing the gathering of inmates and prison’s officials after being welcomed into the facility by officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ooni Ogunwusi who was flanked by his Queen & Deputy Convener of Hopes Alive Initiative HAI Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, explained that the best part of human life is the one spent to serve others particularly the poor and vulnerable individuals.
“We should always remember that God created all of us and that is the God of second chance, we have seen in this country from prison to presidency, right from prison all the way to become the president of this country.
“So please do not write off yourselves, whatever the situation you might have found yourselves here remember that their is a God of second chance.
“I am here to tell you that there is a life after here, it does not end here and that is why you all must see this current phase of your life as a learning stage for the lessons with which you will live for life after here.
“I have not come here to tell you that it is not difficult but I am here to tell you that it is possible for you all to be better and be amongst the best members of the larger Nigerian society when you eventually leave here.”
Highpoint of the event was when five (5) inmates were freed after fulfilling all requirements including payment of bail/fines through the assistance of the HAI, with a promise to keep an eye on them and also empowering them in the trade they learned while in the Correctional Centre.
Other event earmarked for the Ooni Ogunwusi’s coronation anniversary is the Staff Appreciation Night during which all staff members (Traditional and Official) working with His Imperial Majesty will be honoured and gifted series of items including cars for the best performing ones.
In the same vein, parts of the statement said the Palace is not unaware of false, malicious and misleading reportage particularly by some unprofessional bloggers and armchair journalists about the event which does not tally with the event or any of its realities.
“These purveyors of fake news who are bent on blackmailing top personalities for income (Online traffic), prominence or whatever reasons predetermined by them wrote nonsense from the figment of their imagination and got it circulated by armchair (lazy) journalists with no regard for principles, laws and ethics of the prestigious pen profession.”
The Ooni’s Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) has in the last five years engaged in the charity work which targets to give hope to the hopeless and vulnerable members of the society. Ooni Ogunwusi through the NGO has donated befitting homes to the orphanage and destitute, water borehole facilities to several market’s across the South West in Nigeria, educational materials to several schools in the country.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists,Osun State Council will on Friday hold a Commendation Service in honour of late Bishop-Elect, Adesunmbo Samson Abioye.
A statement by the Chairman of the union,Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu and Secretary,Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin indicate that the service will hold at NUJ Press Centre, Iwo /Ibadan Road,Osogbo by nine in the morning.
The statement calls on members of the union,friends and associates of the deceased to be part of the ceremony.
Late Bishop-Elect, Adesunmbo Samson Abioye was a former Secretary of NUJ,Osun State Council.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said that the second in command of an outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) Commander, Ebube Virus, has been killed in a fierce gun battle.
The deceased suspect was on the Imo State Police Command’s wanted list due to his nefarious activities in the Aboh Mbaise area of the State.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Police spokesman, Henry Okoye, on Tuesday.
According to the CP, “Following the confessions made by the suspected IPOB/ESN Terrorist allegedly involved in the killing of DPO Ahiazu Mbaise and other dastardly acts in the Mbaise axis, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping squad led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa on Monday 4th of December, 2023 stormed the criminal hideout of a deadly IPOB/ESN Terrorist Syndicate led by Ebube Virus and Ishaka, at Umuogu Amuzu in Aboh-Mbaise LGA of Imo State and dislodged the terrorists.
“In the process, a ferocious battle broke out between the terrorists and the combat-ready Police agents, neutralizing the Second in Command Ebube Virus, who is well-known on the Command’s wanted list due to their nefarious actions in the Mbaise axis. Others who had been shot at had escaped. From the neutralized terrorist, one AK-47 rifle with 19 rounds of live ammunition was found.
“An operation is underway to find additional fugitive suspects and bring them to justice.”
While praising the brave officers for their unwavering efforts in the fight against all violent crimes in the State, CP Danjuma affirmed the Command’s commitment to working with other security agencies with the aim of restoring peace in the state.
CP Danjuma called on Imo residents to support the Police and other sister security agencies with timely and actionable information that will assist in the crusade against terrorism in the state.
He encouraged owners of hospitals and first-aid outlets to report any person seen with or treating gunshot injuries to the nearest Police Station.
Source: Leadership
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