While we will agree that many residents of Lagos have seriously flouted the rules to stay home and stay safe, celebrities seem to be the ones who are ‘dragged’ on social media for not doing what they preach.
It started with comedian, Sydney Talker – Egere Sydney – who supposedly made a prank call to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). And when Nigerians called him out, the story changed. He has since apologised:
5.
Again I’m sorry and I never meant to hurt anyone.— тнe тowel gυy (@sydney_talker) April 3, 2020
And before Nigerians had moved on from that, popular actor, director and producer, Funke Akindele – fondly called Jenifa – posted videos of a party organised for her husband at their home; alongside Naira Marley, and some others.
The backlash came almost as soon as possible. But it was not the same everywhere. She only subscribed to Twitter backlash and got it rightly – almost no one was going to allow such to pass without complaints. “We are all observing social distancing and lockdown. Why are people partying and allowed to?” She apologised and explained after:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mapD0l6Qk/
But this got to Police and she was arrested. She was also taken to court. However, in an attempt to make things right…
See the crowd and the mixing of sweat, body odour, bacteria and possible exchange of Coronavirus at the court proceeding set up to prosecute Funke Akindele for having a party. The state is making things worse in the process of trying to make it right. Could have been better done.
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) April 6, 2020
JJC Skillz, and Funke Akindele were in court for flouting the lockdown/social distance order.
Look at a video from the same court. Over 30 people choked up, exchanging fluids, less than 10 have masks/gloves.
Can’t these ‘humans’ see the irony? Why are we so aggressively obtuse? pic.twitter.com/60QnJ57866
— Santos Akhilele ?? (@SantosTHEBOSS) April 6, 2020
What’s the difference between Funke Akindele’s house party and this gathering at the court for her trial? If anything, the court session is riskier. We are a bunch of clowns!
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) April 6, 2020
Funke Akindele in court. But wait o, is this not the same reason why she was arrested? There is no social distancing here .
#funkeakindelebello pic.twitter.com/XHI2an3OVD— SirChibueze (@SirChibueze) April 6, 2020
Funke Akindele in court,My question now is who will arrest the people in this video,or is it not because of the same reason ??♂️,NIGERIA MY COUNTRY #funkeakindelebello pic.twitter.com/I7oljmzrS4
— Your.village.people???? (@dolapo_onipede) April 6, 2020
It does not end there.
A total lockdown was announced – with cogent reasons – and security agents were asked to ensure this happens. There are exceptions though but it’s untrue that residents of the three states are observing the lockdown. And this is where Gbagada comes in.
Pictures of people – a lot of them – were seen along the Gbagada-Oshodi expressway doing several kinds of exercises. The pictures also indicate that some of them were playing football on the road. You then ask yourself how all these things are happening and you are to remain a law-abiding citizen.
What is a lockdown?
In Wikipedia’s tongue, ‘a lockdown is an emergency protocol that usually prevents people or information from leaving an area.’
In this case, the lockdown prevents people from moving around and ensures social distancing. It means that people should not be found in clusters, so the virus – COVID-19 – is contained and we all go back to our lives.
The idea is to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further. But what are these people doing? See pictures:
@HQNigerianArmy are you aware of the events along Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway today ? pic.twitter.com/SlwIIfbgDx
— Kehinde Ayeni (@honeyandplum) April 6, 2020
This set of people will later tell you "Govt said we should stay at home, they want hunger to kill us?"
We're not ready in this country mehn, Nigeria which way!Gbagada/Anthony/Oshodi#stayathomeNigerians pic.twitter.com/iBMbUH2zEY
— Ibrahim Ayodeji__SAI ?? (@hibee_SAI) April 6, 2020
Nigerians are mad people, what is this on Gbagada/anthony/oshodi expy for God’s sakes. Look at the policemen too. My heart is weeping pic.twitter.com/QVxHGwmL4e
— ‘Spookasemツ? (@iinioluwa_) April 6, 2020
Call them the fitness freaks who think they are doing the right thing observing their fitness routines the wrong way.
How else do we preach social distancing? Or is the spread of COVID-19 still a joke to people?
See other reactions:
This set of people will later tell you "Govt said we should stay at home, they want hunger to kill us?"
We're not ready in this country mehn, Nigeria which way!Gbagada/Anthony/Oshodi#stayathomeNigerians pic.twitter.com/iBMbUH2zEY
— Ibrahim Ayodeji__SAI ?? (@hibee_SAI) April 6, 2020
Dear @jidesanwoolu Please see what some of our lawless brothers and sisters turned Gbagada into today. Kindly direct @PoliceNG to do the needful because we can't afford an escalation of #COVIDー19 in a place like Lagos. Thanks. @followlasg @Gidi_Traffic pic.twitter.com/zkMekFx2DG
— Mikhail Barnabas (@barnaby04) April 6, 2020
At this rate, tell me WHY the shouldn't extend this thing?
You people are all MAD.
See as Gbagada express way full
Ask these idiots when last they exercised, you guys are all MAD!!!
There is NO way they cannot make EXAMPLES of the ones they catch— Denike (@denikeoyetunde) April 6, 2020
Mahnn
Cancel the whole case!!
Cancel the freaking the case!!No social distancing observed there either….
People are jogging on the streets of gbagada too..
Cancel the damn case!!What a joke of a country .
We are not serious at all https://t.co/pL2LMeczEw— Falilu Ajala ? (@Faleti_ajala) April 6, 2020
I am baffled by Nigerians. There is a crowd of people arraigning Funke and doing the same thing she's being arrested for. Oh, and they've turned Gbagada into a gym.
We can't afford to have 1000 deaths a day. I don't even know if this will make poeple listen.
I'm tired.
— Funmi Oyatogun (@funmioyatogun) April 6, 2020
This here is madness. All of you should be arrested and charged to court for flouting the regulations of @NigeriaGov and @followlasg! https://t.co/yaL7km3NxL
— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 6, 2020
If only these people and all the other people who have REFUSED to take the lockdown serious understand the implications of their actions.
Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram
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