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While countries all over the world continue battling and adjusting to a new normal brought about by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), one thing that has remained a sort of mystery since this global trying moment is the non-discriminatory approach of the virus. The fatalities cut across countries, class, race, tribe and other known/unknown forms of human classifications.
The situation is not different in Nigeria as artisans, health workers, clerics, top political figures, musicians, bank executives, footballers and several others have either survived or loss their lives to the raging virus.
Recently, the Minister of Health and member of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Osagie Ehanire, lamented that educated and well-to-do Nigerians constitute many of the fatalities from COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“A disturbing picture emerging from statistics is that not only are most fatalities observed to be linked with preexisting diseases, many are educated, well-to-do people, who chose home-based care, where they develop sudden complication and have to be rushed to hospital,” he said.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that as of Friday, August, 14, 2020, Nigeria had a total of 48,445 confirmed cases, 35,998 discharge and 973 deaths. TNG understands that these are not just statistics especially for the loved ones of the deceased whose lives might never remain the same even after the world gets over this pandemic.
TNG highlights below a list of prominent Nigerians who lost their lives to the virus after contracting it to further drive home the point that the virus is real and that the recent global freedom should not be taken for granted that the fight against the virus is won and over.
1. Suleiman Achimugu
Suleiman Achimugu was a former Managing Director of PPMC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsidiary in charge of petroleum products marketing and distribution.
Achimugu’s family said he died on March 23 after showing symptoms of the virus following his return to the country from the United Kingdom.
2. Abba Kyari
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, on April 17 succumbed to coronavirus at 69.
About a week before he tested positive for the virus, he was in Germany meeting with energy officials at Siemens on a deal to restore Nigeria’s electricity grid.
He was transferred from the capital Abuja to Lagos for medical care where he was confirmed dead.
Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State
3. Abiola Ajimobi
Abiola Ajimobi, a two-term governor in Nigeria’s southwestern Oyo State died from underlying health conditions after contracting coronavirus.
He passed away in Lagos at the age of 70 on June 25.
Ajimobi was born on December 16, 1949, in Oyo State, South-west Nigeria.
He served as senator before his election as Oyo governor in 2011. In 2015, he became the first Oyo State governor to win re-election.
4. Bayo Osinowo
Before his death, Mr Osinowo was a senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District. He passed away on June 15 at the age of 64.
His death came at a time when he urged the public to be mindful of the deadly virus.
5. Dan Foster
Nigeria-based African American popular radio presenter and broadcaster, Dan Foster aka The Big Dawg died from COVID-19 complications on June 17.
6. Wahab Adegbenro
The Ondo State commissioner of health, Wahab Adegbenro, died from COVID-19 complications on July 2 at the state’s infectious disease hospital.
He died two days after handing the positive test result of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to him. Many who spoke about the late Adegbenro said he was one of the most hard-working cabinet members of the state government.
7. Pastor (Dr.) Richmond Leigh
Pastor (Dr.) Richmond Leigh, the Senior Pastor and Founder of Richmond Sisan Leigh Ministries, also known as Father’s House Bible Church, is dead.
TNG reports that Pastor Leigh was said to have died at an undisclosed hospital in Warri on Friday, July 4 after contracting the dreadful virus. He was the second cleric to die of the virus in the state.
8. Jide Odekunle
Chief Jide Odekunle was General Manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA during the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos State.
According to reports, the top socialite reportedly drove himself to the Onikan Isolation Centre with his wife on Sunday, July 5 and died shortly after of Coronavirus complications at the centre.
9. Tunde Braimoh
The Lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Braimoh lost the battle against COVID-19 on Friday, July 10, 2020.
Until his death, he was the chairman house committee on information, security and strategy in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
10. Buruji Kashamu
Former Senator representing Ogun East in the 8th National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu is the latest on the list of prominent Nigerians to die of the deadly virus.
TNG reports that the former Nigerian lawmaker died of COVID-19 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at the First Cardiology Consultants in Lagos.
He was aged 62.
11. Babatunde Oke, Onigbongbo Local Council Chairman
Babatunde Oke was executive chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) until his death on August 12.
Oke according to reports died last Wednesday from COVID-19 complications. He was the second council chairman in Lagos to die from the virus.
He was 57 years old.
Prominent Recovered Cases
It was not all about deaths for the Nigerian elite class that contracted COVID-19. On a broader note, majority of the elites who tested positive for the virus won the battle against it in a couple of days.
Some of these lucky ones are;
Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State.
Others are; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godsfrey Onyeama also recently recovered from the virus after testing positive on July 19.