Breaking, Abia State Governor, has Tested Positive For COVID-19

Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia state, has tested

positive for COVID-19.

John Okiyi Kalu, commissioner of information in the

state, announced the case in a statement on Monday.

He said the governor had gone into isolation before his

result returned positive, and that he has directed the

deputy governor to act on his behalf pending the time he

resumes duty.

”Recall that 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. Tthe

result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative,”

he said.

”On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted

another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and

the result returned positive.

”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.

”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.”

Ikpeazu is the fourth governor to contract the

coronavirus – after Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Seyi

Makinde of Oyo, and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi.

In March, the governor said COVID-19 would not afflict

Abia because the state is mentioned in the Bible.

“Abia is the only state that is mentioned in the Bible. We

have a promise from God that none of these diseases will

touch God’s people. And I hold on to God’s promise,” he

said.

“We saw Ebola, it did not get to us. We saw monkey pox,

it didn’t get to us. Even this one (coronavirus) will also

pass us by.”

The commissioner of environment in the state had died,

though it was not confirmed he died of COVID-19. But

some members of the immediate family of the deceased

commissioner tested positive for the disease.