COVID-19: Gov Ikpeazu In Isolation For Testing Positive
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM –Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has joined the list of State Chief Executives to test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
The governor had already gone into isolation before his result returned positive, and directed the Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf.
A statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, said; “On Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test.
“On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020, the result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative.
”On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive.”
According to Kalu; ”As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.
”Consequent on the above, the Governor has directed his Deputy, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of duties.”
The Commissioner, who emphasised the need for citizens to take responsibility, said; ”We wish to urge all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19 serious as the disease is real but not a death sentence.”
“Our state has the resources to manage patients back to good health”, he assured
So far, three Nigerian Governors and one Deputy Governor have tested positive for the deadly virus. On the list are Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state; Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state; and Seyi Makinde of Oyo state who have all recovered and discharged after turning in negative results.
However, the Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela who tested positive according an official statement on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 is still undergoing treatment for the virus infection.
Tela is the Chairman of Bauchi State Task Force on Disease Control currently fighting coronavirus and lassa fever in the North East state.
