Former Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Bukola Olopade has thumbed up the tireless efforts of Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun of Lagos and Ogun States and the Federal Government respectively in containing the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.
Olopade who is a survivor of the deadly virus told journalists in an interview conducted by foremost Whatsapp platform, Nigerian Sports Mouthpiece (NSM) that the seriousness with which the two Governors have tackled the further spread of the Covid-19 showed exemplary leadership per excellence and should be commended for their efforts.
The owner of Nilayo FC, a club campaigning in the Nigeria National League (NNL) also praised the effort of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for the fast pace with which the National Council for Disease Control (NCDC) has gone to ensure that they trace and get people tested to halt community transmission.
“I believe strongly that two Governors really stand out very well in this fight against the Coronavirus Pandemic. I have always said that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has shown that he is a wartime Governor,” Olopade said in an interview.
“He has exceedingly shown that his leadership is exemplary. The way he has tackled this has given me comfort that Lagos State is actually doing its best to contain, treat people and to save lives.
“The other Governor is Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun who I believe through scientific development and so many other means is actually fighting this pandemic and continuing it very effectively. I believe to a large extent that the two States that are of serious concern are actually fighting it.
“I also want to give credit to the Federal Government. I believe the NCDC started very slowly but they have got their acts together and are now doing very well to trace and get people to be tested. Nobody has said this is going to be a simple job it is obviously a tough job that they are doing.”
The philanthropist and a foremost marathon race advocate further admonished Nigerians to ensure they practice all the safety measures mentioned by relevant bodies to contain the spread of the virus.
He, however, reiterated that all the remaining Governors must change their lackadaisical approach towards the virus with the surge in the reported cases of the virus in Nigeria and the entire globe.
“I just want to advise that Governors who are still having a lackadaisical approach towards this virus should wake up and smell the coffee like one of them said a few days ago. The reality of this virus cannot be in isolation because the truth is, you are watching the CNN from the Government House and you getting the report on a daily basis on the havoc it is wreaking world over. You are also being told that the virus knows no bothers.
The reality is that you must be up and doing if it is yet to come to your area. I pray it doesn’t come to your area but the truth is that it might still come. You just have to be prepared and ready to fight it and protect your people.”
Olopade who shared his experience and ordeal while his sojourn with Coronavirus lasted noted that the news of his testing positive to the deadly virus was heart-wrenching but that he quickly summoned up the courage to submit himself for him to get the medical solution to his problem.
“As I have always explained the transition period of waiting for the result was surreal and quiet and expectant because I had been in isolation already as at that time,” Olopade added.
But the reality of the result made me sick because in as much as I was prepared for anything and in as much as I always thought that there was a possibility of anybody catching this virus especially those of us who are prone to having the flu.
I didn’t still really expect for a positive result to come but it was a reality check when the result came. I had to quickly gather myself together and leave the house so that I do not infect the other people in the house. I submitted myself to the IDH team in Yaba for a medical solution to the problem.
“When I got to the hospital, it was a situation of mixed feelings. There I had to stay with about 14 people. It was disturbing to me but I was quick to adapt because I literally found out that they were very nice gentlemen who have now become my friends and brothers for the rest of our life I hope.
It was an amazing meeting with them but the reason why I asked to be in the tent was because of the toilet. The fact that I will be sharing the toilet with 14 different people did upset me. But to God be the glory I was moved to a private ward after two days where I spent the next three weeks before I finally tested negative twice.
“It was a tale of excitement that I tested negative for the second time consecutively because I had tested negative before but a positive test result tainted that and it was very psychological torture for me and after the 16, 17 and running into the day 18 day I had to really struggle mentally because it was upsetting to note that I had tested negative and I later tested positive but when eventually on day 20 the result came back negative on the back of the negative of Day 19 it was a thing of joy and to go God be the glory I was discharged on day 21 and the rest, as they say, is to God be the glory.”
Olopade had since reunited with his family members after he recovered from the Coronavirus scourge and he is in the process of floating a foundation named Medical Hero’s Foundation in a bid to support the welfare of medical workers in Nigeria.
