Family admits Kabba Chief Imam dies of COVID-19 amidst Yaya Bello denials
By Saka Bello, Lokoja
A royal family in Kogi State has admitted the Chief Imam of Kogi to coronavirus pandemic even as state authority holds on to a clean slate boast. With the revelation, which involved the death of a man of immense public interaction, it is expected that Kogi state is not immune from the scorge and the State Governor, Yahaya Bello claims.
In a statement by Chief Tai Ejibunu the Obatebise of Oweland on behalf of the Ejibunu Family made available to Irohinoodua stated that the Chief Imam of Kabba, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Ejibunu, died of COVID-19.
The family said the Chief Imam was down with flu some few days back and he had to be hospitalised at the Specialist Hospital in Kabba.
The family said that further medical attention was sought at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Lokoja as the flu did not abate after some days.
According to the family, at the FMC, he was referred to the National Hospital in Abuja and the text conducted on him by the NCDC showed that he was Covid-19 positive.
Chief Ejibunu said the text conducted on one of his sons who had been with him since, came out negative.
“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 well being of other Owes and we wish to confirm that Covid-19 has fond its way sadly to our community and the State” Chief Ejibunu said.
He spoke further that there was 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.”
Chief Ejibunu said firther “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 began.”
He said what is needed from the people is empathy and no need for the acrimonious exchange of views and counter views.