Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has tested positive for Coronavirus as confirmed in a statement released by the state’s commissioner of information, John Okiyi Kalu.
The Governor who went into isolation before his test result came back positive has directed the deputy governor, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu to act on his behalf till he resumes duty.
The statement read ”Recall that on Saturday, 30th May 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test. On Tuesday, 2nd June 2020. The result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative. On Thursday, 4th June 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive. As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health. Consequent on the above, the Governor has directed his Deputy, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of duties. We wish to urge all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19 serious as the disease is real but not a death sentence. Our state has the resources to manage patients back to good health”