By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, today rallied the people of the state to pray for the quick recovery of his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, who earlier today confirmed that he had tested positive to the dreaded COVID-19.
A statement by his media aide, Mr Allen Sowore said that Ajayi who was disturbed by the news, expressed confidence that the governor would overcome the disease and continue to pilot the affairs of the state.
It said that the deputy governor was relieved by the governor’s disclosure that he is asymptomatic and in stable condition whilst on self-isolation.
According to the statement: “The Deputy Governor urges all the people of Ondo State to pray for Mr Governor’s quickest recovery and general well-being. Health is not something to play politics with and as such craves the cooperation of all at this period.”
Akeredolu had earlier in the day in a statewide broadcast and on his twitter handle confirmed that he tested positive to COVID-19, even as he assured that Nigeria would defeat the virus.
The governor had said in the broadcast: “My good people of Ondo State, it gives me great pleasure to address you. I had malaria few days ago and was treated. I did get over it; and as at the time my party’s NEC and colleagues called on me, I spoke with one of them who said that malaria should not be just treated lightly, but I should go and have test for COVID-19.
“The result came out today 30th June 2020 and I tested positive. But I am asymptomatic. I don’t have, I am not feeling odd in any way. But my doctors have decided that I should take the normal treatment and self isolate.
“I believe that supervised home management would be ideal for me for now. So from now I would be isolated and go on with the supervised home management.
“Let me assure our people that as you can see me, there are many of us like this that don’t have the symptom. It is there, you can’t see it. And in few days time, we would conduct another test and we would know the result.
“Let me assure our people that the work is going on. I am here at home attending to files. That is the normal thing I do. There is nothing that would stop the work going on. And I want to plead with my political associates that they should continue with the project. We are sure to win.
“As you know, I am gifted to get through to my destination knowing that I am a man with special gifts. My trust in God to get through this is unshaken. I thank Him and pray to Him for His hand of healing to remain on us.
“Please my people if you have malaria or other things, get tested. So I thank God for the discovery of this on time.”
Earlier, he had written on his tweeter handle: “Today I tested positive for #COVID19. All is well. I’m asymptomatic and have been self isolating. Work continues. Your continued prayers over my well being are most appreciated.” — Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) June 30, 2020
Thus, Akeredolu has become the fifth incumbent governor to test positive for COVID-19, with all of them recovering and regaining their radiant health after treatment in self isolation. They include Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state, Seyi Makinde of Oyo; and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi. recovered after testing positive for the disease.
Also, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state is undergoing treatment for the disease while his Delta state counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, is self-isolating after his daughter tested positive for COVID-19.
Besides, two other governors, including Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state and Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, who had also self-isolated after coming in contact with infected people, later tested negative for the disease.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria in February, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control said 132,304 samples have been tested.
Nigeria, as at midnight Monday, had 15, 255 active COVID-19 cases, while 9,402 have recovered and have been discharged.
The breakdown of the 25, 231 reported confirmed cases is as follows:
- Lagos State: 10, 310 cases,
- FCT – 1,818,
- Oyo – 1, 372,
- Kano – 1, 211,
- Rivers – 1, 056,
- Edo – 986,
- Delta – 965,
- Ogun –807,
- Kaduna – 703,
- Katsina – 549,
- Bauchi – 500,
- Gombe – 503,
- Borno – 491,
- Ebonyi – 481,
- Plateau – 405,
- Jigawa – 317,
- Imo – 318,
- Abia – 302,
- Enugu – 261,
- Ondo – 308,
- Kwara – 217,
- Nasarawa – 213,
- Bayelsa – 211,
- Sokoto – 151,
- Osun – 124,
- Akwa Ibom – 86,
- Adamawa – 84,
- Niger – 84,
- Kebbi – 76,
- Zamfara – 76,
- Anambra – 73,
- Yobe – 59,
- Benue – 59,
- Ekiti – 43,
- Taraba – 19 and
- Kogi – 4.
Despite worrisome rising COVID-19 cases, Nigeria on Monday further reopened its economy as it lifted the ban on interstate travels, opened its airports for domestic flights and announced plans for resumption of schools nationwide that were shut down due to the rampaging disease.
