Delta State Government has ordered a compulsory Covid-19 Test for media Aides to the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The directive was contained in a telephone text message to all the Governor’s media Aides on Monday, instructing that the order was compulsory as part of the measures to mitigate the spread of the Pandemic in the state.
The message reads, “Please be informed that all Media Aides to the Gov have been directed to carry out COVID-19 test unfailingly. You may wish to contact Dr Peace the CMD of Asaba Specialist Hospital for assistance. 0706 739 2070. Warm Regards….”.
The Delta state government has concluded plans to embark on compulsory testing of government officials for Covid-19 in the state.
This development has created tension among political office holders who appear not to be too comfortable with such directive.
As it is Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Edith, are receiving treatment after testing positive. One of the daughters of the state’s first couple had earlier tested positive, prompting her parents to immediately embark on self isolation.
Two key appointees of the persons of Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chiedu Ebie and Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu also tested positive.
As a result of the development, other top government functionaries including career civil servants in the rank of permanent secretaries, directors and heads of parastatals and agencies are afraid of a possible order compelling them to go for COVID-19 test.
“Permanent secretaries and directors who are senior career civil servants are apprehensive that their result may likely turn out positive if they are forced to go for test”.
The source disclosed that these are people who have been observing the protocol, yet they still contracted it, meaning all of us are not save.
But in a media report monitored, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika said Government House was not shutdown.
He was quoted as saying that the “SSG, Commissioner for Information are in isolation centres, so the only person who speaks now is me and what I said today is the position of government.
He said, “We have not shutdown government house, any government officials who go for test is for them to know their status”.
“Government is moving, and governor has been speaking, he is only in isolation centre, the only difference is that you don’t see him on the road but he has been working on files”.
The Governor met with local government chairmen, they have a virtual meeting, the same thing with COVID-19 team.
“Governor is not sick, that he tested positive does not make him sick, he is stable responding to treatment, even SSG handles few things, Coronavirus is not a death sentence.
“I, myself have being on isolation for 12 days, I have not seen any symptom in my body. If it continues like this by Monday I will get back in my office,” he added.
“When somebody tested positive, people who have contact with such a person will be adviced to go on self-isolation, that is what everyone is doing.
According to him, “My office, SSG and information were shutdown and all of us were asked to go in order to fumigate the places.”
