Editorial Column

How Governor Akeredolu Infects Members Of His Cabinet With COVID-19

Published

4 years ago

Jul 4, 2020.

The government is known to make laws and guidelines by which citizens of the state must abide by, and if this is not followed, the citizens are said to have broken the rule and punishment will be given to them for the violation.

But what happens when the lawmaker is one who breaks such laws?

This is the story of how the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, disregarded health guidelines and has infected members of his cabinet with the dreaded disease.

Nigeria recorded its first index case of coronavirus pandemic with an Italian man; following this, the country’s number of cases started rising, and the disease spread across many states in the country.

The federal government, in its bid to stop and curb the spread of the virus, announced a total lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and FCT.

These states and FCT were then the epicenters for the virus in March and later declared a total lockdown on interstate travel.

Some weeks later, the federal government announced a gradual easing of the lockdown, thereby releasing some guidelines to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the guidelines, the President Task Force and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC announced the mandatory use of face mask for everyone in other to prevent transmission of the disease from persons to persons.

You will agree with me that with the news of the use of face mask, Nigeria is witnessing a new thread of people wearing a face mask that marches with their clothes, even our government officials were not left behind as they were seen wearing a face mask with logos of their states and also masks matching with attires.

Governor Akeredolu Disregarded COVID-19 Guidelines

But when a Governor of a state became irresponsible and put it sundries at risk for his incompetence, then one is left with the question of who exactly are the laws made for, Governor Akeredolu who was supposed to be an example to his subordinates and the citizens of the state he overseers, was seen in a viral video singing and dancing disregarding all the guidelines put in place to curtail the spread.

On June 16, Mr. Akeredolu, who is seeking another term, went to Abuja for the submission of his nomination forms at the APC national secretariat. However, before heading to the headquarters of the ruling party, the governor was seen amid the lawmakers who sang his praises in a viral video.
It would not have been in the news if the governor only disregarded the guidelines but sneezing in public at a time like this pose as a threat to other persons, the reason face mask was recommended, and the result of this is, the fate befalling many in the state.

See video below:

Video of ondo state Governor sneezing in the midst of people before he was diagnosed with COVID19 pic.twitter.com/nPFs5RBrIx

— EkoHotBlog (@ekohotblog) July 1, 2020

Governor Akeredolu Tested Positive To COVID-19

The rapid spread of the virus started among members of his cabinet two weeks after the viral video, when Mr. Akeredolu announced on Tuesday, 30th June 2020 that he has tested positive for the virus, the question that readily comes to mind when one remembers this video is; shouldn’t the governor have isolated himself when he saw this symptom, shouldn’t he have been more responsible by maintaining the social distancing and wearing the face mask? And many other questions a lot of people would want to pose to him.

Akeredolu’s Wife, Six Lawmakers Tested Positive

The event took a new turn two days after, following the news of his wife Mrs. Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu and her security aides who tested positive for the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2nd of July 2020, alongside six members of the Ondo State House of Assembly who accompanied him for the submission of his nomination form in Abuja.

Traditional Rulers to Undergo COVID-19 Test

While we are what to be, the Commissioners, Senior Special Advisers, other top political office holders, media aides, and journalists in the governor’s office were also reported to have undergone the test and are now awaiting the result.

Also, some traditional rulers who visited the governor to endorse him for the second term in office have been advised to undergo the COVID-19 test.

Ondo State Commissioner Of Health Dies Of COVID-19

Wahab Adegbenro is dead

Still, on the 2nd July 2020, the State’s Health Commissioner, Mr. Wahab Adegbenro, was reported to have died of the disease.

The commissioner, who was 65-year-old died on Monday after he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, having contracted the Coronavirus.

Lawmakers Refused To Go For COVID-19

As the virus continues to spread among his cabinet, the Cable News reported on July 2, 2020, that a source disclosed that four out of the 19 members of the House of Assembly who accompanied the governor, to Abuja, are currently sick but have refused to go for COVID-19 test.

Akeredolu Refuses To Handover To His Deputy, Ajayi

With these experiences so far, one would have expected the governor to hand over the affairs of the state to his Deputy like some of his colleagues in other states who handed the mantle of leadership to their deputies when they tested positive for COVID-19. Still, Mr. Akeredolu has refused to step aside for his Deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, during his recovery process.

Mr. Akeredolu, through the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Donald Ojogo on Friday 3rd of July, said he would not hand over the management of the state affairs to Mr. Ajayi despite being absent to perform his duties.

This will serve as a lesson, for political officer holders or lawmakers, to live by example, if Mr. Akeredolu had earlier observed precautionary measures on COVID 19, he would not have infected members of his Cabinet with the dreaded Virus.

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