Muhammadu Sanusi II, the former emir of Kano, and his wives have tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
On Saturday, Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state and friend of Sanusi, disclosed that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In the last 14 days before the test, Sanusi and el-Rufai have had numerous meetings and physical contacts, including a four-hour drive from Awe, Nasarawa state to Abuja.
According to a statement released by his Adam Sanusi, the former emir’s son, the “family has been inundated with calls asking about the health and safety of my father [Sanusi] especially given the number of visitors he received on arrival in Lagos, and a number of contacts he had who have either tested positive for COVID 19 or were in contact with persons who tested positive”.
“As for my father, on March 25, he and all our mothers submitted samples for the COVID 19 test. These samples were taken at home under the supervision of Dr. Alero Roberts, the second Vice Chairman of the Association of Public Health Professionals,” the statement read.
“On March 27th Dr. Roberts conveyed the results and all of them were NEGATIVE. We hope this information will allay the concerns of all those who are asking.”
SANUSI: COVID-19 IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE
He added that Sanusi would, however, “still like to urge Nigerians to stop reacting to adverse test results as if they were a death sentence. COVID 19 is no respecter of persons or status. The Prince of Wales has it. The British Prime Minister has it. Several high profile Nigerians have it”.
“This disease is normally a very mild one, about 96-97 percent of those infected are expected cured. Over 80 percent do not need hospitals and recover at home by adhering to recommended protocols. However please note that COVID is real.
“Social distancing and compliance with the guidelines of public health authorities is the only way to ensure it does not continue spreading endlessly in our country.
“We should also not assume that this virus left unchecked can not mutate into something even more dangerous and deadly. Most people should shake it off in less than two weeks and sensationalizing results or stigmatizing the disease does not speak well of us as a people.”
A MESSAGE FOR MUSLIM SCHOLARS ON SOCIAL DISTANCING
Sanusi called on Muslim scholars to suspend congregational prayers as mandated by most governments, in favour of social distancing.
“We must comply even with the suspension of religious gatherings including congregational prayers. Muslim scholars who continue to defy this guideline may wish to consider the implications of Nigeria being the country that has not put an end to the pandemic.
“At the minimum, Nigerian Muslims will be barred from Hajj and Umrah for fear of restarting a global pandemic. We must learn from the ill-advised opposition to polio vaccination.”
He prayed for a quick recovery for el-Rufai and other with COVID-19, and protection over everyone else free of the disease.
“Our hearts go to him and his family in these times. And we are proud that he has continued to lead the effort to protect his state from spread of the virus even when in isolation,” Sanusi said.
Nigeria has recorded 97 cases so far.