After the Chief Imam of Kabba, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Ejibunu was confirmed as the index case of COVID-19 in Kogi State, former Senator Dino Melaye has affirmed that the virus exists in the state.
According to Dino Melaye who issued a statement, the index case is person he knows personally.
“I want to announce that the covid-19 case in Kogi is real and authentic and can not understand why any responsible government will want to deny and invariably kill her citizens.
“One of the cases is from Kabba and the victim is personally known to me. I cannot be part of those who will play politics with the lives of my people.
“Covid-19 is real but not a death sentence if handled early enough. Family members of the Kabba victim who got referral to Abuja from Federal Medical Center in Lokoja and all those who had contact with him should please surrender themselves for test so as to curtail the spreed. “Kogi State government must come down from her imaginary high horse and start contact tracing to help curtail the spread. “It is illogical to think we will be free with our proximity to affected states.
God will hear our cry and heal our land. God bless Okunland! God bless Kogi West! God bless Kogi State. Melaye wrote.
The family of the index case also released a statement confirming the position of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) despite the denials by the Kogi State Government.
The statement issued by Chief Tai Ejibunu (Obatebise of Oweland), on behalf of the family affirmed that the Imam corrected the virus within Kogi State as he has not been outside the state in a long while.
“I wish to affirm, on behalf of Ejibunu family, that the Chief Imam of Kabba, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Ejibunu, was down with flu some few days back and he had to be hospitalised at the Specialist Hospital in Kabba. The statement said.
Further medical attention was sought at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Lokoja as the flu did not abate after some days. At the FMC, he was referred to the National Hospital in Abuja and the text conducted on him by the NCDC showed that he was Covid-19 positive.”
The family would have come out to speak on the matter, but we were not comfortable with the ding dong game going on between the NCDC and the Kogi State government.
“The family is concerned about the well being of other Owes and we wish to confirm that Covid-19 has fond its way sadly to our community and the State. Therefore, no need for Kogi State government to deny the obvious.
The statement also said one of the sons of the imam who had close contact with him tested negative for COVID-19.