Covid-19: Atiku’s Son Infected As Governments Battle To Enforce Quarantine Orders

By Uche Mbah

The son of former Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has tested positive of corona virus.

Announcing this in a tweet Sunday, Atiku, who did not name the particular son, said he has  been moved to Gwagwalada specialist Hospital for treatment and management.

“My son has tested positive for coronavirus,” he tweeted.

“The @NCDCGov (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real,” he concluded.

Till date, the Lagos index case has not been named. He has, however, been discharged after testing negative twice in two days, Lagos health officials say.

Atiku’s son is the first high profile case to be recorded in Nigeria, while other countries have been recording such. The wife of the Canadian Prime Minister has been infected, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, had to be quarantined after the doctor that tested her was diagnosed positive.

Meanwhile, various state governments Sunday battled to enforce the “no-church-no-mosque service if the members are more than fifty” law with varying success. Most church goers observed worship either at home or online. Some churches that opened had Police officers come into the church counting the number of members of the congregation, with some church leaders arrested. But the pastor of Living Faith Outreach, also known as Winners chapel, David Oyedepo, flouted the order and had his service with thousands of worshipers. His branches in Europe remained closed in obedience to local laws.

His activity drew ire from Nigerians on Social Media.

Meanwhile 23 confirmed cases of the Virus has been identified in Nigeria, while for the first time, Italy, the European epicenter, for the first time recorded a decrease in new cases. This coincided with their Prime minister coming  out and weeping publicly saying they are helpless and that they are now at a loss on what to do. “God please help us. Pray for Italy’, he said.