COVID-19 is no joke, it’s real – Emir of Daura

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruq Umar, on Saturday affirmed that COVID-19 was real.

He enjoined Nigerians to fear God and support the efforts of the Federal Government to tackle the pandemic.

The monarch made the appeal in Katsina while commenting on his recent admission to the Federal Medical Centre and subsequent discharge from the centre.

The monarch, who spoke in Hausa, said, “All praises be to Almighty Allah for taking us through this time, the most dangerous period in the entire world.

“Firstly, I want to urge all my people to show solidarity and support the state government in its efforts at protecting the people’s health.

“The state government will always do the needful and spend any amount to ensure that ordinary citizens stay safe.

“So I am appealing to the good people to be loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Aminu Masari.

“This is because my coming here testifies that the government is spending huge resources on the common man when it comes to the issue of rescuing their lives and dignity.

“I want to draw the attention of the people world over that the current pandemic is not a joke, hence people should fear God and return to Him.

“If the world is not settled, people should not expect anything good even if you are physically healthy.

“Therefore, he who wants to enjoy himself in Katsina State should be loyal to the Federal Government.

“I am indeed grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for sending sympathy message to me three times over my recent health challenge.

“I am equally grateful to the state government for showing its concern to me as if it’s the whole state that fell sick.

“I, therefore, have no word to the state Governor Aminu Masari but to say may Allah spare his life. It’s because of his care that I am fully recovered.

“Let the governor know that I am now fully recovered through him. Let the governor know that all that he spent on me to get recovered, including his advice for me. I am grateful.”

Sunday PUNCH recalls that the royal father was last Thursday discharged from the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina after his admission to the facility for an undisclosed ailment for almost two weeks.

His palace at Daura had earlier been sealed off by security operatives on the orders of the state government.

Aminu attributed the closure to the efforts of the government to curb spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The governor had said, “The palace is like a Government House, housing thousands. So, we decided to take control of the palace so we would take samples of everyone that lives in the place.

“Eighty nine samples were taken from there. We’ll wait and see the outcome for the next line of action. What we did was to provide maximum control to make sure we can identify those who have contracted the virus or tested positive.”

Sunday PUNCH recalls that COVID-19 first index case was from Daura.

The 60-year-old medical doctor, Aliyu Yakubu, died in April, few hours after he was admitted at the Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura.

Masari said samples taken from his remains confirmed that he was positive for COVID-19.

Katsina currently has over 205 cases of COVID-19 with 12 deaths.