.FAMILY DISMISSES COVID-19 REPORTS
Contrary to the story making the rounds, that Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji who until his death was the member representing Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly had died of suspected symptoms of COVID-19, the family has come to say the insinuation was far from the truth.
In a statement signed by Elijah Ugani, Media Assistant to the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji, his family said the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji did not at any time showed symptoms suspected or assumed to be related to COVID-19.
In the statement, the family said, “We are glad to inform his constituents, cross riverians, Nigerians and the world that the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji never died of COVID-19, as widely speculated as his sample test returned negative including that of members of his immediate family and those who were with him at the time of his death”.
On why the lawmaker was taken to the COVID-19 isolation centre, the family said, “He started feeling unwell on the 9th of June, so he traveled back to Calabar same day Tuesday, 9th June, 2020 and consulted his physician. He battled with the situation until Wednesday 17th June, 2020, when the situation had become very critical, he then instructed that he should be taken to the hospital.
“At the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, the industrial action by the Association of Resident Doctors ARD, had forced UTCH into being a mirror image of itself. There was practically no doctor to attend to him. A development that led to his been moved to the General Hospital, Calabar.
“While at the General Hospital, the only doctor that was on ground claimed that he was already closing and that they should wait for the doctor on the next shift who will take over from him to attend to the lawmaker.
“At this point, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jonas Eteng Williams was contacted and he then put a call across to the Commissioner for Health and Chairman, Covid 19 Task Force Team, Dr. Betta Edu who then insisted that the only place that has doctors that can attend to the lawmaker at that moment was the isolation center. She directed the doctors at the isolation center at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital to attend to the lawmaker, irrespective of the situation.
“That was how the late lawmaker was taken to the isolation center, which led to the insinuations that he died of COVID-19. He was not taken there because of symptoms suspected to be COVID-19, but because of the industrial action of ARD.
According to the Akwaji family, they waited patiently for the covid test results to enable them dispel the heinous rumour making the rounds.
“At this moment of the demise of our pathfinder and breadwinner, we are indeed pained and saddened that his unfortunate death is taking a negative twist as any death within this period can be attributed to the dreaded pandemic, COVID-19.
“The family has no intention whatsoever to join issues with anybody, online platforms or organization over the cause of the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji’s death.
“We are however very resolute and decisive to issue this release to dispel the rumors that have been spread as well as create the enabling environment for friends, well-wishers and spirited sympathizers to feel free and identify with the family at this moment of grief.
“It is also our intention that all online platforms that published the misleading information publish this rejoinder to put the record straight”, they wrote.
