APC to test all its secretariat staff in Ondo State for Covid-19 after Governor Akeredolu tests positive

PANIC has gripped members of the Ondo State government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state after  Rotimi Akeredolu has been diagnosed as coronavirus positive yesterday morning.

Yesterday, Governor Akeredolu, who attended the national executive committee of APC last Thursday in Abuja, confirmed he had contracted the virus. On June 16 when he went to submit his nomination forms at the party secretariat in Akure, he was seen interacting with officials in a video that has gone viral, where he was seen sneezing.

While in Abuja, it appears that he showed symptoms of having the virus and was thus advised by a fellow governor to go for the Covid-19 test. After Governor Akeredolu tested positive, the Ondo State chapter of the APC said it would expedite action to get Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to test everyone at the party secretariat.

Governor Akeredolu said: “Earlier today, I got confirmation of a positive result for Covid-19. I am asymptomatic and not displaying any symptoms.

"I am currently self-isolating and supervised home management will be administered by the wonderful team at our infectious disease hospital. I ask that we all stay safe and be well.”

Yekini Nabena, a member of the Ondo State chapter of the APC and a former deputy national publicity secretary of the party, said: “Even before now, the party has been making arrangements to get NCDC to test everybody at the secretariat. With this one now, we will now expedite the system so that people in the secretariat can be tested, even journalists covering the party would also be tested."

Governor Akeredolu added: “My good people of Ondo State. It gives me great pleasure to address you at this moment. I had malaria two days ago and was treated and I did get over it.

“At the APC national executive council meeting, one of my colleagues spoke with me, advising me that malaria should not be just treated as likely, that I should go ahead and have a test for Covid-19. The result came out on June 30, 2020 and I tested positive but I am asymptomatic, am not feeling sick nor feeling odd in any way.

“However, my doctor has said that I should take the necessary treatment and self-isolate. I believe that supervised home management would be ideal for me for now.”

He directed all members of the cabinet, close aides and others who have had reasons for constant contact with him to undergo a compulsory test. Donald Ojogo, the Ondo State information commissioner, has signed a directive to this effect on behalf of the governor.