The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, has died at the age 65.

This comes as the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, one of the security aides to governor, and the Chief Medical Director of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, Dr. Oluwole Ige, were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19.

Though details of the cause of Adegbenro’s death were not revealed as of Thursday evening, it was learnt that he died of COVID-19.

It was gathered that the commissioner had been sick for some days before he passed away on Wednesday morning at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State.

On the COVID-19 status of the governor’s wife, one of Governor Akeredolu’s aides, who spoke with The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent on Thursday that the governor’s security aide also tested positive.

The aide said,

Yes, mama’s (governor’s wife) result has come and it is positive. One of the security men attached to the governor is also positive and has been asked to be on isolation.

It was gathered that Mrs. Akeredolu had been on self-isolation for the past few days and did not attend any function.

Meanwhile, government activities were paralysed in Ondo State on Thursday following the announcement of the death of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro.

When our correspondent visited the state secretariat at about 12.30pm on Thursday, many offices of senior government officials were deserted as only a few civil servants were sighted in their offices.

One of the civil servants informed our correspondent that all the political appointees had deserted their offices following the news that the governor had contracted the disease and the death of the Health commissioner.

He said, “Since yesterday (Wednesday), my boss (a special adviser to the governor) has not come to the office. Many of the government appointees have gone on self-isolation. They did not come.”

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Donald Ojogo, also confirmed the development and said all the aides had begun to go for the test.

However, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, Dr Oluwole Ige, who tested positive for the virus, was said to be receiving treatment.

A statement issued by the Press Officer of the hospital, Mr. Adeeyo Babatunde, indicated that the CMD was responding to treatment.

In a related development, following the death of the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, the state government has declared Friday July 3, 2020 a work free day to honour the departed commissioner.

The state government also directed that all flags in the state must fly at half mast for seven days from Thursday, July 2, 2020.

The directive was contained in a statement on Thursday issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.