Omicron: Singapore-Based Nigerian Scientist Urges African Leaders To Protect Citizens—Dr Jonathan Obaje, a Nigerian Research Scientist based in Singapore, has stressed the need for African countries to protect Africans from unnecessary Omicron-related stress by taking an informed position.
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that Obaje, a former Vice President of Nigeria in Diaspora, Singapore made this known in a telephone interview.
According to him, the news about the Omicron-related hospitalisations being peddled are unfounded, because in Africa where the COVID-19 variant was first discovered 7-weeks ago, there is no such vast challenge.
Obaje said, “Africa cannot afford to be part of the on-going global confusion and unprecedented fear-mongering regarding omicron variant of COVID-19 virus.
“Many conflicting information and directives are currently being issued by different authorities, Disease Control Centres, health organisations and institutions across the globe regarding omicron the new COVID-19 virus variants.
“Africa will remain vulnerable if it does not quickly take an informed position to protect her population from further unnecessary pains; African cup of Nations is now being victimized, among many others.”
He mentioned that indisputable scientific facts had so far shown that Africa had the least COVID-19 vaccination, yet with the lowest COVID-19 fatalities globally.
He also noted that current data across the globe showed that the Delta variant of COVID-19 virus is responsible for over 90 per cent of hospitalizations and fatalities globally.
“It is obvious that the largely unvaccinated African population was left to fight COVID-19 with their innate immunities, which subsequently caused the 32 mutations and weakened COVID-19 virus-producing Omicron variant.
“Over 2years, the African innate immunity learned to deal with COVID-19 virus silently without the watchful eyes of the World, similar to how the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Covid Virus (SARS-COV).
“SARS-COV of 2002 was eventually mutated and weakened to common flu by the human immune system; Omicron is probably the weakened variant of COVID-19 virus.
“The immediate scientifically expedient action would have been to let Omicron become dominant globally, so the variant can become the new harmless COVID-19 virus.
“Rate of hospitalizations will reduce with Omicron contrary to the on-going unscientific speculations,” the Scientist added.
He further explained that for countries with excess vaccines, where vaccines are now being used as palliative rather than prophylaxis, it is probably good for them.
More so, he said that they can hoard it and have multiple rounds of palliative vaccination, adding that Africa must focus on boosting prophylaxis methods.
“African leaders must not allow themselves to be dragged into the on-going global confusion and manipulations relating to Omicron.
“Rather, Africa needs to commission a study of the spectacular phenomenon, which has produced Omicron for the purpose of prophylactic measures against future pandemics.
“Omicron should not be used as an excuse to peddle fears and speculations, causing further economic disruptions around the globe; it is disingenuous to instill fears through speculations.
“The world deserves a break and Omicron offers the much-needed relief from COVID-19 pandemic.
“The on-going media hype, panic, commercial and dehumanising policies on the account of Omicron are very unfortunate and amount to a crime against humanity,” he said
