Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday said his household avoided him after he tested positive for COVID – 19.
He , however , said he was asymptomatic and recovered from the infection three days later .
Obasanjo , who turned 84 on Friday, said this at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library , Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, while making remarks at a colloquium to celebrate his birthday.
The colloquium, which took place simultaneously online and offline , was themed , ‘ Reflection on Governance and Changes for Post- pandemic Leadership in Africa . ’
The event attracted hundreds of guests who participated virtually from Nigeria , Burundi , the Democratic Republic of Congo , Ghana, and Singapore.
Obasanjo said when he tested positive, he called his daughter , Dr Iyabo Obasanjo – Bello, who is an epidemiologist, informing her of the development .
He said Iyabo’ s verdict was that the result might be faulty and required further tests .
He said , “ It will surprise you that I tested positive for COVID -19. I called them to come and test me . They came on a Saturday. I didn ’ t get the result until the following Wednesday. It came out positive, but I didn ’ t see any symptoms.
“ When they returned three days after, they tested me and said I had tested negative . My daughter , Iyabo, is an epidemiologist and I called her . She said maybe they tested me at the later stage of my being positive.
“ I told her I had no symptoms and she said it could be a faulty result. But I was tested positive . Since then , I have been tested negative three times.
“ It is nothing to worry about . When I tested positive, my household was running from me. I told them to stay in their places while I stayed in mine . ”
Obasanjo said when he was tested positive, he took local herbs on the advice of a professor of medicine ( unnamed) .
He said , “ I used herbs because a professor of medicine was the one who told me that herbs should not be ignored . He said 80 per cent of drugs had their origin in local herbs .
“ The herbs will boost your immunity. A professor told me that every living thing has an inbuilt process of healing . While doctors care , God does the healing . ”
The former President called for collective efforts to tackle the pandemic, urging African leaders to pool their resources together to buy vaccines.
“ If we don’ t have the facilities to produce vaccines, we can have the sense of coming together and collectively purchasing vaccines, ” he said , urging the people to continue to adhere to COVID – 19 protocols like handwashing , wearing of face masks , and use of hand sanitisers . ”
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