By Uche Mbah
Dr Li Wengliang, a Chinese ophthalmologist who warned of an impending epidermic that will have Wuhan as the epicenter but was arrested by Chinese authorities for rumor mongering, himself has contacted the disease and died, setting the Chinese social media on fire with outrage and shock.
In an unprecedented anger never seen on Chinese Social media, Chinese were incensed that, even in death, the Chinese government has been playing coverup as regards the state of his health. Initially, officials said he is under intensive care and is recovering, but later claimed that they are battling to save his life. Meanwhile, it was later found out that he has been long dead before then.
Li had warned in a private Wechat message of an epidermic that is coming from a SARS-like virus that may kill so many Chinese in a short while. Unfortunately for him, he himself came in contact with the dreaded disease when treating a glaucoma patient who had the disease but does not know it.
Wechat and Weibo are the two most popular Chinese social media outlets since China was not comfortable with Facebook and Twitter because of their American control.
In a predictable reaction, according to Chinese Media, the government started to pull down posts on the social media platforms, but that only increased the demand for the Chinese government to apologize to Li posthumously.
“Why are they still deleting posts on how the local government owes him an apology?He deserves it! And the government really thinks we are all stupid?” a Chinese wrote on his Weibo account.
The social media reaction is almost reaching fever pitch, with historical watchers fearing it may crystallize into a movement that will challenge the authoritarian regime of the country. Wunam was the epicenter of the revolt against the historical Qi dynasty.
This comes at a time the virus is hitting victims in astronomical proportions, with about 700 people dead, 32,000 infected and the Chinese economy dancing on a wobbly knee.
This was also the time the Nigerian government is again asking China for loan, while small African countries are reportedly donating to china to fight the menace.
The Chinese government had earlier admitted that the initial response to the Virus had been faulty, and the Prime Minister had promised to punish those implicated in the lapse.
“Those who tell the truth are arrested for spreading rumors and those who tell nothing but lies become the leaders”, another post from weibo said.”What a sign of the times”.
