ONLY LIES: DESPITE GOVERNOR UDOM’S INITIAL DENIAL AKWA IBOM STATE CELEBRATES THREE RECOVERED COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH BRASS BAND

Secret Reporters

It is no news that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Udom Emmanuel, had some weeks ago denied the report of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that there were five (5) index cases of the novel COVID-19 pandemic in the State as though it were an election result.

Though a welcome development, unfolding events have shown that this was only a charade aimed at possibly making residents in the state to believe that there are no COVID-19 cases in the state SecretReporters has learned.

Contrary to the vehement denial of the Governor, the Secretary to the State government Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem alongside the Commissioner of Health amongst others, had in a press statement confirmed that out of six patients suspected to have been infected with COVID-19, three were discharged from the Isolation Unit of the Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo on Wednesday 15th April 2020 after recovery.

The Akwa Ibom State government which had initially demanded that a fresh test be conducted by the NCDC, also stated through the SSG that three of the six discharged patients were from the initial five index cases reported by the NCDC in the State.

It was also gathered that besides the five suspected cases which isolated at the Ibom Specialist Hospital having swayed Nigerians into believing that there were no positive cases in the State, additional four samples of suspected cases were taken for testing along with the initial five for confirmation.

Unable to continue with the lie told by the ‘Deacon Governor’ despite his ‘Only God’ slogan, the cases which had been shrouded in secrecy was later announced by the SSG who was in the company of the Commissioner of Health Dr Dominic Ukpong, and the Commissioner of Information Mr Charles Udoh amongst others.

Seeing the discharge of four patients who tested negative to COVID-19 as a great feat, the Governor allegedly organized a jamboree fanfare inviting the ‘Brass Band’; (an orchestral band) to celebrate their discharge while residents of the state grapple to survive the hardship occasioned by the lockdown.