By Gideon Njoku
Is the outbreak of the Coronavirus in Nigeria a big scam? Are the scary increasing numbers of victims a big scam? Is anybody playing on the intelligence of Nigerians?
A good number of people, particularly, from the masses think so. A couple of well-placed Nigerians, including at least, two governors think so, even if they shied away from hitting the nail on the head. Indeed, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was reported, weeks ago to have said what we have is Malaria. Perhaps, he meant the cases of some of those discharged at the time.
But from another privileged corner, on Thursday, came the biggest doubt cast on the virus.
The doubt came from media mogul and high profile politician, High Chief Alegho Raymond Dokpesi. He spoke publicly. If anybody should know, even though he is not a medical personnel, it is Dokpesi.
Dokpesi spoke from personal experience. He was a victim.
13 days ago, Dokpesi, his two grandchildren, his daughter-in-law, and four others were evacuated from his Abuja residence to an isolation centre at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. They had tested positive for the COVID-19, a Virus which has shut the world down.
His son, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr., the one now running the DAAR Group, which his father founded,  had, days earlier, tested positive for the Virus, and evacuated to that isolation centre.
On Thursday, twelve days after his evacuation, the media mogul and his two grandchildren were discharged from the isolation centre, having tested negative, and certified free from the ravaging virus.
Ushered into his expansive compound by jubiliating family and staff members with cheers and praise songs to God, an overwhelmed, and,almost, emotional Dokpesi, thanked everybody that showed him love and care while he was in isolation, especially, the medical team, and his high profile friends.
Then, he dropped the bomb.
He cast a doubt on the existence of Coronavirus (in Nigeria), more than hinting that it could be nothing than a bad dose of malaria.
Dokpesi: “I still have doubts in my mind. And I still want to be properly educated. I am a bloody mechanic. (He is a Mechanical Engineer, with a PhD in his field of specialisation). What is the difference between COVID-19, which is a Virus and Malaria which is mosquito bite?. Because every medication I was given was malaria medication.
“Even some people went, before being told that they were COVID-19 positive, they were tested in reputable laboratories in Abuja, they were tested in hospitals in Abuja, and what they found was that they have a lot of Malaria parasites in their blood.
“So, when did malaria become synonymous with COVID-19? That is food for thought”.
Since Dr Dokpesi’s question and doubt, there has been no reaction from the Minister for Health, the Director General of the NCDC, or the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
