COVID-19: Melaye tackles Yahaya Bello over rejection of NCDC results

Former Senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye has tackled the Kogi state government over its rejection of the COVID-19 results announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The health agency had announced that two cases of the dreaded virus have been confirmed in the state, but the state government rejected the results, insisting it is COVID-19 free.

But it was widely reported that Ahmad Ejibunu, Chief Imam of Kabba, has been identified as the state index case. In a statement, Tai Ejibunu, Obatebise of Oweland, had said that Ejibunu may have been infected from within the state.

Reacting to the development on in a statement on Saturday, Melaye accused Governor Yahaya-Bello-led government of falsehood and deceit, adding that the report of COVID-19 in Kogi state is “real and authentic”.

The controversial politician added that he knows one of the patients from Kabba.

“I want to announce that the Covid-19 case in Kogi is real and authentic and cannot understand why any responsible government will want to deny and invariably kill her citizens,” he said.

“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 a referral to Abuja from federal medical centre in Lokoja and all those who had contact with him should please surrender themselves for a test so as to curtail the spread.

“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 Okun land! God bless Kogi west! God bless Kogi State.”