Breaking
Anxiety as teaching hospital allegedly admits first COVID-19 suspect in Cross River
Appearance of strange ‘oil workers’ induces fears at hospitality
The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) may have admitted the first Coronavirus suspect to its isolation centre in Cross River.
It was gathered that the patient, a youth corps member in Ugep, Yakurr Local Council of the state, returned recently from Abuja with symptoms of the disease.
The news however caused panic, as a viral video showed the patient being wheeled into the centre.But the hospital’s management yesterday refuted the report, but confirmed that a patient had been admitted in the isolation centre.
The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Professor Ogbu Ngim, said: “This morning (yesterday), we were made to understand that a patient was brought into our casualty department who had some upper respiratory tract infections – cough.”
He added: “The patient was not sneezing. She didn’t have fever. She didn’t have any of the symptoms that will say this is COVID-19, but as you know, everybody this period even if you have malaria will think it is COVID-19 which is not correct. However, we observed what we call universal precaution on any case that you think maybe and she was taken to the Isolation centre.
“We have followed the universal precaution and it is important to note that before you labelled a case as being COVID-19, they are protocols to follow. Those protocols are yet to be exhausted; we do not have a positive confirmatory test. As we speak, samples have been taken; we only observed what we call universal precaution on any case that you think maybe.”
Meanwhile, the scare of the virus has hit Calabar, as 28 oil workers believed to come from Port Harcourt yesterday locked down Tinapa Hotel, leading to a forced self-quarantine.
Sources at the hospitality claimed that the oil workers were an advance team of 35 Americans aboard Ibom Air who were allegedly trying to assess the city from Lagos but were originally frustrated.
They said the visitors “came in by road from Port Harcourt and asked us not to admit anymore guests and we should not go out as they will pay for everything.”
The development has raised suspicion in town with some persons querying: “They are oil workers from Port Harcourt. Why did they not stay in Port Harcourt and fly with their chopper to their rig? Why should they come in and stay hush in a hotel when hotels are shutting down? So there is something funny about their stay. They do not want the workers to go out and funny enough, Tinapa is in the outskirts of Calabar and it is not even functioning to accommodate guests let alone oil workers that often go for the best hotels in town. Besides, Cross River has no oil rig or platform.”
The inquiry went on: “Or could it be as rig workers, they don’t want the rig to be infected or alarmed hence they decided to keep them on shore first for observation for sometime as they are managed by their own doctor. In this disease, it grows in an astrometry order where one can affect one, two infect four and in that order. That is why the government has to get to the bottom of it because if 28 persons are infected, it is possible that over 1,000 can get it in Calabar.”
During a visit yesterday to the hospitality, The Guardian observed that it was deserted with a policeman stationed at its entrance alongside three other persons. In a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu, stated: “I have not heard of that, I know of the 35 persons who tried to make their way into the state but they were stopped.
“This other group of people I have never heard about them. I will send our team down there to confirm the story.”She added: “The general situation in Calabar is still calm and we are working on sensitisation, especially in the rural areas where they seem not to understand the implications of COVID-19.”
However, businesses in the Cross River State capital city have been affected by the lockdown ordered by Governor Ben Ayade to check the Coronavirus outbreak. Though prices of goods were not in anyway affected, markets were, however, not as busy as they used to be. Also pinched by the scenario are bars and eateries, which were adhering to the social distancing directive.
Breaking
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah dies at 52
The Senator representing Anambra South in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Ubah, is dead.
Ubah, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil, was said to have died in a hotel in London, the United Kingdom, on Saturday.
He would have been 53 on September 3.
Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed Ubah’s death to our correspondent on Saturday.
He said, “It’s confirmed, but I am sending an official statement soon.”
Ubah, who was re-elected into the 10th Senate under the Young Peoples Party, had last year defected to the All Progressive Congress.
In September 2022, Ubah escaped assassination when he was attacked by gunmen on his way to Nnewi in Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State.
Breaking
JUST IN: Edo state Assembly impeaches Deputy Governor Shaibu
The Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached the state’s Deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
Breaking
JUST IN: Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun joins ancestors at 81
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has joined his ancestors after a brief illness.
He joined his ancestors at the age of 81.
It was gathered that the late monarch was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning having stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of slight malaria fever, though, he was hail and hearty on Monday during which he personally received few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second year anniversary on that day.
Making this announcement was the Baba-Kekere Olubadan and his younger brother, Dr Kola Balogun in a statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late monarch, Oladele Ogunsola.
According to the statement, Dr. Balogun disclosed that Oba Balogun would be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4.00pm on Friday according to Islamic rites just as he said that the State Governor Seyi Makinde, though already verbally informed, would be formally notified early in the morning.
The late Olubadan was the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch, a British trained P.hd holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, NPP, former Senator and a successful business man.
His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to derobed Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.
He however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.
The late Olubadan is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.
Announcing the passage of the monarch, Governor Makinde, in a statement, stated that Olubadan, who joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, described him as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.
He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.
Makinde said: “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. Balogun has joined the ancestors.
“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.
“On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland.
“It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”
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