Anxiety over Bauchi gov’s contact with Atiku’s son

Ex-VP denies ward’s presence at Play Lounge, mosque
Anxiety has gripped members of the National Economic Council (NEC) following the decision by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and his entourage to self-isolate after coming in contact with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s son who tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Mohammed’s self-isolation was announced in a press statement yesterday by his media aide, Mukhtar Gidado, as the governor had travelled with Atiku’s son in the same flight from Lagos to Abuja, and that both of them exchanged handshake.

The governor has cancelled all appointments.

Though the result of the test he reportedly took was not out at press time, NEC members, including protocol and other auxiliary staff, yesterday started expressing apprehension over their interaction with the governor.

It was not clear when the flight itself took place, but the governor attended last Thursday’s meeting of the council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he mingled for several hours in the council chamber with the vice president and other members.

Osinbajo, yesterday, abruptly cancelled a 9a.m. commissioning of a scheduled National Traffic Radio at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) headquarters in Abuja.

A message from the vice president’s media office to newsmen ahead of the programme, on Sunday read: “Good evening all. The programme for the National Traffic Radio commissioning scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled.”

The reason for the sudden cancellation of the commissioning could not be established, but sources said the decision was not unconnected with the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

Meanwhile, Atiku has clarified the movements of his son, Mohammed, who was taken to the quarantine centre in Gwagwalada, Abuja, last Friday.