PHOTO OF THE DAY: Yahaya Bello Dares COVID-19, Mingles At Villa Meeting Without Face Mask
In the eyes of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, COVID-19 infections are fictitious and deaths resulting from the dreaded virus are untrue.
Even though Nigeria has recorded a total of 69,645 cases and 1,181 deaths, Governor Bello has continued to hold a firm belief that COVID-19 is a hoax.
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Due to this belief, the governor has hardly been seen wearing a face mask or observing social distancing while attending public functions.
Bello was the only governor seen without a face mask when several governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) attended a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The governor had while declaring open the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Kogi on November 17, claimed that the state had “demystified” COVID-19.
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“In Kogi State, we have demystified the COVID-19 pandemic and urge you all to feel free and have a breath of fresh air,” Bello, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Edward Onoja, had told corps members deployed to the state.
Also, in a video posted on his Facebook page on March 25, Bello had said: “90% of the noise about COVID-19 is for political, economic, financial [or] material gain. The other 10% [relates to] ordinary flu, like the common colds Nigerians generally suffer.”
However, some Nigerians who reacted to photos of the APC NEC meeting posted on Facebook by presidential aide, Femi Adesina, berated Bello for failing to observe recommended COVID-19 protocols. One Garba Sule simply commented, “He is ignorant of covid-19 protocol.”
Among prominent Nigerians who have died as a result of COVID-19 complications are: President Buhari former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, Suleiman Achimugu, a former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC); Abiola Ajimobi, former two-time governor of Oyo State; Wahab Adegbenro, former Ondo State commissioner of health; Bayo Osinowo, former senator representing Lagos State East senatorial district, amongst others.
