Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia, says the state will not record any coronavirus case because it was mentioned in the Bible.
Ikpeazu, who is a biochemist, said this during a chat with Onyebuchi Ememanka, his chief press secretary, which was broadcast live on Facebook.
In the Bible, Luke chapter one verse five traces a certain priest’s origin to Abia — not the state though.
That verse states: “There was on the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”
Ikpeazu said because Abia is the only state mentioned in the Bible God will not allow any disease touch His people.
He said: “Abia is the only state that is mentioned in the Bible. We have a promise from God that none of these diseases will touch God’s people. And I hold on to God’s promise.
“We saw Ebola, it did not get to us. We saw monkey pox, it didn’t get to us. Even this one (coronavirus) will also pass us by.”
The governor advised Nigerians against panicking as a result of the disease, saying: “There is the need for us to ponder a little and take little steps.”