Godwin Akwaji, a lawmaker representing Obudu constituency at the Cross River state house of assembly, has died after showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Akwaji, who was diabetic, and also exhibited fatigue, fever, cough, breathlessness, died at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) isolation centre around 12:30 pm on Thursday.
A family source disclosed that the deceased had been treated for malaria and pneumonia with no improvement. And added that some persons who visited the lawmaker at the hospital are already showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Commenting on Akwaji’s death, Ifere Paul, a Facebook user, wrote: “I spoke to Hon. Godwin Akwaji weeks before the LGA elections. He told me what a wonderful chairman I’ll make. He ended our conversation on a sad note though.
“That the establishment does not want intelligent people like me, and was afraid I might not make it because I am not somebody’s stooge. I just got information from Agba Jalingo that Hon. Akwaji is late now.
He was such a nice guy. May his soul find rest.”
Cross River is the only state where any case of COVID-19 has not been confirmed in the country.
According to the situation report of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for May 18, 2020, the south-south state had only tested seven samples out of its almost four million population, while neighbouring states have recorded cases and are battling community transmission.
But the state government has repeatedly said the measures it put in place worked in making Cross River free of the disease.
Ben Ayade, the governor, had said he had been spending nights at the state’s borders as part of efforts to prevent COVID-19.
