The family of Chief Imam of Kabba, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Ejibunu, has
stepped into the war between NCDC and Kogi state Government over
covid-19 stating the Chief Iman died of coronavirus.
Kogi State Government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have been at loggerheads over covid-19 cases in Kogi.
While NCDC insisted two cases were confirmed, the Government insisted
the state is coronavirus-free calling NCDC’s claim a ‘beautiful fraud’.
The family has now told the State Government “to stop denying the obvious.”
Chief Tai Ejibunu, Obatebise of Oweland, in a statement by the family,
said the Chief Imam exhibited symptoms of Covid-19 because he eventually
tested positive after referral from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC),
Lokoja.
In the statement titled, “The COVID-19 Case Infection: Matters Arising,
the family said,: “Our attention has been drawn to the series of
discussions going on concerning Covid-19 index case in Kabba and the
identity of the index case.
“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.
“Further medical attention was sought at the Federal Medical Centre 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
test conducted on him by the NCDC showed that he was Covid-19 positive.
“The test conducted on one of his sons who had been with him since came out negative.”
It added: “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 wellbeing of other and we wish to
confirm that Covid-19 has found its way sadly into our community and the
state.
“Therefore, no need for Kogi State government to deny the obvious.
“We would like to stress that the Chief Imam, of recent, had never
ventured outside Kogi State by way of travelling outside the state. So,
the ‘virus’ could have been contacted within.
We wish to advise our people to please abide by the protocols emplaced by the NCDC and play safe.
“The family is cooperating with the Kogi State government and the NCDC to stem the spread.
“This evening, contact tracing and testing of family members of the Chief Imam had begun.
“What we need from our people is empathy and no need for the acrimonious exchange of views and counter views.
“May God save Oweland and her people in particular and the state in general.”
