Breaking: Governor Ikpeazu of Abia tests positive for COVID-19, hands over to deputy

The governor of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria, Okezie Ikpeazu, has tested positive for the Coronavirus and gone into isolation.

The state commissioner for Information John Okiyi Kalu, announced this in a statement on Monday, June 8, 2020.

Kalu said the governor has handed over leadership of the state to his deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu, and gone into isolation.

”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. The 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.”

Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and now Ikpeazu, are the four state governors that have contacted the Coronavirus in Nigeria so far.

On Sunday, June 7, 2020, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 260 new confirmed cases, bringing Nigeria’s total to 12,486.

Until then, Abia State had had only 16 infections since February, but the latest figures show 67 new infections, bringing the states total to 83.

No deaths have been recorded from Abia State as a result of the disease.