Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has tested positive for coronavirus.
He made this known via his Twitter handle on Monday.
“I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is positive. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate,” he said.
The governor, who urged residents to comply with directives aimed at curbing coronavirus in the state, said his deputy, Prof Temitope Alonge, would take over as the head of Oyo COVID-19 Task Force.
“I have designated Prof. Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully.
“Please, continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe,” he added.
The PUNCH reports that Makinde is the third known governor that tested positive for the disease, after Bala Mohammed and Nasir El-Rufai of Bauchi and Kaduna States respectively.
Barely 24 hours before the governor tested positive, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced four new confirmed cases in Oyo.
Among them are the Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo; Provost and Deputy Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, professors Ezekiel Olapade-Olaopa and Obafunke Denloye, respectively.
As of Sunday, Oyo State had recorded seven confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the NCDC.
Earlier, the governor had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state and suspended inter-state transportation into and out of the state.
Makinde tests positive for COVID-19
By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Governor made the disclosures through his twitter handle on Monday evening.
Noting he doesn’t show any symptoms of the virus yet, the Governor designated a former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge to continue to as the head of the COVID-19 State Task Force Team till his full recovery.
He enjoined the people of the state to continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force, while reiterating that all must stay home to stay safe.
Makinde tweeted: “I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is Positive. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate.
“I have designated Prof Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully.
“Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe.”

By Sadiq Oyeleke