Twenty-four hours after the result of his COVID-19 test came out positive, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said he remained asymptomatic as he did not present with any sign of the disease.
Makinde, who has been self-isolating for five days, however, said it had been confirmed beyond a reasonable doubt that Coronavirus is real and highly contagious.

The governor spoke during a life call-in programme on FRESH 105.9FM, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday.

He said that it was a difficult time waiting for result of his sample.

According to him, the medical team that came for his sample arrived at his residence around 9am on Saturday. The tests were conducted at the new diagnostic centre in Ibadan.

Makinde said,

“Like I posted on my wall yesterday (Monday), we all know that I took the test for COVID-19 as I promised. The result came out positive, so I have the virus. I delayed because I promised that we had to get a diagnostic centre in Ibadan going and once we get it, I would be the first to get tested through that facility.

“The medical team came to my house where I have been self-isolating at about 9 o’clock on Saturday, March 28. They took my samples. I waited for the result yesterday (Monday). Of course, I was anxious but I kept busy with some of the works; especially, COVID-19. But, we also have other issues like security and what do we can do in case things get a lot difficult and challenging.

He, however, said it would be illogical for anybody to conclude on the particular person that he picked the disease from.

“All the governors who attended the National Economic Council meeting were advised to self-isolate once one of the attendees tested positive. Based on that advice, I went on self-isolation almost a week ago. I had to cancel the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday last week.

“With this virus, you cannot really say this is where it came from having interacted with a lot of people, but what we are dealing with right now is that I have done the test. It is positive, so I have the virus. We know it is real and we have to deal with it.

Asked to describe how he was feeling since he contracted the virus, Makinde said,

“I still don’t have any symptom. Checking his temperature in the course of the programme, it read 36.5.

“The fact that I have no symptom is the reason why I am insisting that people should maintain social distance, follow hygienic practices and stay at home because we don’t know (the status) of people we are interacting with. Even a gathering of 10, which I said people should not exceed in Oyo State, may still expose people to COVID-19.

“We had a rally two weeks ago and I see the video circulating on social media which is being interpreted to mean that I doubted the existence of COVID-19. The reality is no; I actually never did. This is what the All Progressives Congress leader did metaphorically when he said the virus had got into the party. That I said the virus was only in the APC was a metaphor.”

He urged the people of Oyo State to follow all measures put in place by the government to prevent and control the spread of the virus, saying, “I do not want anybody to lose their lives because of this. I do not want people to doubt the sincerity of this government to serve their interests.

On whether the state is considering total lockdown as done in neighbouring Lagos and Ogun states, he said his administration had placed all options on the table, hence would follow a logical pattern in curtailing the virus.