*NO COVID-19 -CASE IN KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY*
As eminent and responsible representative of the people, ordinarily if not for the respect for the dead, we won’t dignify the proponents of the false, disrespectful and ill-conceived article linking the death of the Member representing Ibaji State Constituency in Kogi State House of Assembly, late Honourable John Abbah to the ravaging Covid-19, but to properly inform the general public on the true picture of what happened leading to his death.
At about early hours of Thursday 24th June 2020, the official report came informing the House about the demise of Honourable John Abbah , a member representing Ibaji State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly both in the 6th and the current 7th Assembly.
Shortly after the current Assembly was inaugurated mid-last year Hon. John Abbah lost his wife and later he took ill and has been battling with his health. Long before the outbreak of the novel pandemic viral disease, Covid-19, the deceased travelled abroad for medical treatments and returned, he has been recuperating until he bowed to the inevitable hands of death early hours of yesterday. It’s certain that every soul will taste death and no one can add a microsecond to his appointed time. To our distinguished colleague Honourable John Abbah, his time has come and he has returned to his Creator. May his soul rest in most peace.
In assertive voice of the honourable House, we wish to equivocally and categorically state that the death of Honourable John Abbah has no link whatsoever to corona virus (Covid-19) disease and that none of the House Members or staff of the Kogi State House of Assembly is infected or battling covid-19 or any strange ailment. Therefore, its unfounded, baseless, mischievous, misleading and total disrecpect for the dignity of the dead for any individual or group to link the painful death of our distinguished colleague to Covid-19. We therefore urged the general public to disregard all false information, publications, rumour making round on the possiblity of the late Lawmaker being a victim of covid-19. Its the imaginative and wishful thinking of Political elements and enemies of the state who are bent on causing mischief for reasons best known to the agent provocateur.
Consequently, we commend His Excellency Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for a holistic approach to fighting Covid-19, protecting the citizens against the health, psychological and socio-economic effects of the global pandemic. We therefore, reiterate our collective and unflinching support to His Excellency on this popular and globally applauded approach to fighting the pandemic.
Onbehalf of the Rt. Honourable Speaker and distinguished Hon members of the 7th Assembly I wish to commiserate with the families of the deceased and the people of Ibaji Constituency and prayed for the repose of his soul.
The honorable House shall continue to work in harmony with the Executives to serve the electorates responsibly and qualitatively to justify our mandates.
*Hon. Musa Jimoh Omiata* ,
*Chairman, House Committee on Information*
*Kogi State House of Assembly*