Governor Ikpeazu Questioned on Twitter as Abia Records 2 Coronavirus Cases
Twitter users have criticized Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, after the state reported its first two COVID-19 cases, despite the governor’s claim that the virus could not be recorded in Abia.
NCDC announced that Abia State has recorded two new cases, marking the first cases in the South-Eastern state since the outbreak began.
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control confirmed the cases on Monday, April 20, reporting thirty-eight new cases of #COVID19. Among the cases, 2 were in Abia.
23 in Kano
5 in Gombe
3 in Kaduna
2 in Borno
2 in Abia
1 in FCT
1 in Sokoto
1 in EkitiAs at 11:10 pm 20th April there are 665 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 188
Deaths: 22
The Commissioner for information in Abia state, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu also confirmed this in a statement and outlined actions being taken.
The statement read, “We have received the report of two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Abia State this (Monday) evening from NCDC. Both patients are advanced in age but currently stable at an isolation centre in our state.
“On the direction of the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, we have deployed our ventilators to the isolation center in readiness for their use if eventually required to nurse them back to good health.
“Our well-trained medical personnel are offering all necessary support, and we hope and pray the patients survive this ailment.
“Contact tracing has commenced in earnest, and our rapid response team is currently mobilizing to reach those who may have had contact with the two index cases.
He added that the result of one Prosper Vincent, who was isolated in the state, came back negative.
He said: “Meanwhile, the result of ‘Prosper Vincent’ returned negative, and he will promptly be released from isolation.”
The two Coronavirus patients in Abia State are from Ukwa and Umuahia North areas, and those who may have come in contact with them have been advised to immediately call 0700 2242 362.
Following the confirmation of COVID-19 cases in Abia State, the Twitter community criticized the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, for his previous statement that Coronavirus cannot be recorded in Abia State because Abia is the only state mentioned in the Bible.
Ikpeazu, who is a biochemist, made this assertion during a Live Facebook chat with Onyebuchi Ememanka, his chief press secretary.
In the Bible, Luke chapter one verse five traces a certain priest’s origin to “Abia”
That verse states: “There was on the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”
Ikpeazu stated, “Abia is the only state that is mentioned in the Bible. We have a promise from God that none of these diseases will touch God’s people. And I hold on to God’s promise.
“We saw Ebola, it did not get to us. We saw monkey pox, it didn’t get to us. Even this one (coronavirus) will also pass us by.”
Twitter users were quick to call him out on his statement following the announcement of two new cases in the state.
See some reactions below.
