On the 30th of March, 2020, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde in a tweet on his official twitter account announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
In line with the directive of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that anyone who has had physical contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 should self-isolate, Knowcovid19.ng compiled the list of public gatherings the governor attended and which attendees must self-isolate because they might have had contact with the governor during these events.
In this report, Adebayo Abdulrahman of OYOINSIGHT.COM takes a look at these nine events and documents the details and controversy surrounding them.
11th of March
On the 11th of March, the Governor attended the PDP stakeholders meeting at the secretariat of the party at Moletearea of Ibadan, the state capital.
The meeting had in attendance various dignitaries including the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka; Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; members of the state working committee of the PDP led by the state chairman, Chief Kunmi Mustapha; among other notable leaders and elders of the party from across the five zones of the state.
12th of March
The governor attended the Oyo State productivity Day Award held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall of the University College Hospital, UCH Ibadan.
The event was attended by various people including the Head of Service of the State, Alhaja Amidat Ololade Agboola
13th of March
The governor met leaders of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) led by Comrade Samson Adedoyin in Ibadan, the capital of the state.
On this day, he also met with the management of the University Press PLC led by the Managing Director, Mr. Samuel Olawale.
16th of March, 2020
The governor flagged off the Free Health Mission for all Local Government Areas. The event took place at Kishi in Irepo LGA of the state.
The event was graced by many including the Caretaker Chairman, Irepo Local Government, Kishi, Mr. Adediran Abdul-Lateef.
18th of March
The governor attended the ‘Unification’ rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West held at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan.
This rally was heavily criticized by members of the public because it was held at a time when the Country already had three confirmed cases of coronavirus and the NCDC have warned the public to avoid social gatherings.
OYOINSIGHT.COM also reported how the Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Taye Currency performed at the event less than 24 hours after returning from the UK, one of the worst-hit countries by coronavirus, which is against the guidelines of the NCDC which states that returnees from high-risk countries should self-isolate for 14 days.
He also attended the Nigeria Governors Form meeting which had in attendance various governors including Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state.
19th of March
He participated in the meeting of the National Economic Council held in Abuja. The meeting had in attendance various high profile personalities including Governor BabajideSanwoolu of Lagos state, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger state, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state, Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed among others.
20th of March
The governor chaired the meeting of the Oyo state COVID-19 taskforce which had in attendance various people including the Commissioner of Health, Chief Medical Director of UCH among others
After the meeting, he addressed a press conference where he announced the various measures the state will take to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
21st of March
He met with veteran Hip-hop star David Adeleke popularly called Davido at the statehouse.
OYOINSIGHT.COM had earlier reported how Davido’s visit is a disregard for the directive of the NCDC that returnees from high-risk countries should self-isolate for 14 days.
After meeting the governor, Davido again disobeyed the guidelines of the NCDC that social gatherings should be avoided by performing at three events in the city of Ibadan at a time that he should be in self-isolation.
23rd of March
The governor visited the Agbami isolation center at Jericho Chest Hospital in the company of the state commissioner forhealth among others.
Even though the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa while speaking on Silverbird TV on Tuesday morning claimed the Governor contracted the virus in Abuja, this is not sufficient to conclude the statement is true.
