By Stan Nwachukwu, Umuahia
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Governor, Abia state must be writhing in pains. He must also be hallucinating on how he contracted the dreaded Coronavirus disease at a fortress like Abia government House. Umuahia.
Pandemonium broke out at the government House, Umuahia, penultimate week, when the National centre for disease control, NCDC, confirmed Ikpeazu’s positive status for COVID-19.
Abia Commissioner for information, John Okiyi, in a statement confirmed that the governor has been isolated, and taken to the NCDC centre in Abuja for treatment. Okiyi boasted in the statement that the state government has enough resources to carter for the treatment of the embattled governor and that the governor has handed over to his deputy, Sir, Udeh Oko Chukwu.
Keen observers point to the facts that before the governor tested positive; his Commissioner for Environment had been mowed down by the covid19 disease in Umuahia. Not many reason, therefore, that that was a sign of bad omen.
Government House sources informed the magazine that the governor was jolted into compelling all his Commissioners to go for coronavirus test, a development that forced residents and Ikpeazu’s aides to take more precautionary measures, apparently to avoid contact.
The sources confided in the magazine last week that though the Governor is responding to the treatment, socio-economic activities has been grounded. The source noted that Abia Government House which hitherto was a beehive of activities has been deserted. ‘’There is fear of the unknown now at the Abia Government House, Umuahia. Security officers who are courageous to be there are guarding their loins. No visitors again. Crowds have disappeared at the government centre. Activities have been paralysed’,’ Government House sources said.
As at last the last count, about 83 persons, including Ikpeazu are leaving with the disease in Abia.
When the governor was confirmed positive for Coronavirus, shock waves went down the spines of many in the state. Analysts say, unless adequate precautionary measures are taken, by the time Ikpeazu is discharged from the NCDC treatment centre, Abia probably would record high index rate of Coronavirus victims.
Close associates of the governor informed The Source that when the coronavirus pandemic broke out, Ikpeazu took proactive measures to ensure the disease did not cross the borders of Abia. He was said to have closed all borders after he set up a steering committee to fight the pandemic.
Sources revealed he devoted a large chunk of state resources to nip the disease in the bud, even as he distributed face masks, sponsored advertorials in the media to create awareness of covid19. Ikpeazu also set up mobile courts to try those who violate NCDC guidelines. And he achieved success until the recent development when he became a victim.
However, there are some Government House sources who resort to blame games. They say in hush-hush tones that the Governor failed to comply with the NCDC guidelines on Covid 19. They make the insinuation that Ikpeazu has a large army of lieutenants and cooks at the Government House. They blamed the governor for hosting visitors at his Lodge contrary to NCDC rules of social distancing.
However, Ikpeazu’s loyalists are not keeping quiet. They say their master complied strictly to NCDC rules more than any other governor in the country. They express the hope that the governor, like other Governors in the country who tested positive for the virus would return to Abia seat of power hail and hearty. Speaking from the Isolation Centre on Thursday, he assured he would be back soon.
Many attribute his present pain to the large number of aides under him. Keen Observers aver that the only way to restore normal health and eliminate the pandemic at the Government House is for the NCDC to invade the state and decontaminate the zone.
