The second wave of the deadly Covid-19 has begun. And it has proven to be far more fatal than the first wave. Within only its first few weeks in Nigeria, hundreds of lives have been lost to the rampaging virus. The new variant has proven to be far more contagious and deadlier than the original virus. Lots of prominent Nigerians, sadly, have been killed by the Coronavirus and many, thankfully, have also survived and lived to tell the story. City People’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) brings to you the horrifying experiences of some of Naija celebrities who are survivors of the killer virus called Covid-19.
SEGUN AWOLOWO
Segun Awolowo, a grandchild of Obafemi Awolowo, former premier of western Nigeria, says the fear of COVID-19 is a killer. Awolowo said his COVID-19 ordeal began one Saturday morning when he could not go for his usual walk because of “extreme fatigue”.
According to him, the fatigue was “something I had never experienced before in my life”.
The executive director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said when he eventually went to see his doctor, he and his wife were diagnosed of COVID-1 “Finally, we decided that I simply had to go to the hospital as I wasn’t getting any better. My wife was apprehensive because my hospital is First Cardiology Consultants, and they have not been too popular in the media recently, as the media has chosen to highlight the unfortunate losses of several high profile personalities while failing to document that they have an 82 percent survival rate which is higher than most hospitals in the United Kingdom,” he said while sharing his experience on Facebook.
“However, I insisted on going there, as both Dr Adeyemi Johnson and Dr Kofo Ogunyakin have my medical history and my greatest confidence. Then the shocker! We both tested positive for COVID-19, my wife was asymptomatic while I was already ill. The doctor looked worried as he gave us both diagnoses.
“Looking at the doctor’s somehow downcast and gloomy mien coupled with my brother Sola Braithwaite’s demeanour who had insisted on accompanying us to the hospital was the moment the fear came down on me! I strongly believe the fear of this coronavirus is the real killer. “Doctor sent us off to perform a CT scan, to ascertain the extent of the damage. The ride to the lab was the longest, my wife drove and I was collapsed in the passenger seat, we were both worried sick about ourselves and our children and domestic staff who had by now reported to the hospital to get tested. “Thankfully they all tested Negative). I tried to lighten the mood with some dry jokes but these, of course, didn’t work.”
Awolowo said after getting their laboratory results, the doctors expressed some satisfaction and prescribed Colchicine, Azithromicine, Vitamins C, D and Rivaroxaban for them.
The lawyer said he and his wife subsequently isolated themselves in a part of their home.
“We received numerous advice from friends and family to experiment with all sorts of herbal remedies (Our Nigerian way). We however succumbed to the inhalation of the traditional Dogon Yaro leaves (the bark, leaves of the Neem Tree) but also stayed the course of the recommended treatment by the doctors and by the 5th day I was feeling much stronger,” he said.
“At the end of the week, I got the all-clear and my wife took a little longer to get better, so we switched roles and I had to take care of her. (remember it’s for better for worse). After another week we went back to the hospital and we both got the all-clear check.”
Awolowo said he does not know how he contracted the disease but that he was exposed to numerous meetings after the total lockdown was lifted.
SEGUN ADENIYI
Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman of THISDAY editorial board and former presidential spokesman, has revealed that he and his family members all tested positive for COVID-19. Narrating his experience on Thursday in his weekly column, Adeniyi said he is disturbed that there are people who still doubt that COVID-19 is real.
According to him, a robbery attack in his house two days before his family (eight of them in the house) learned of their positive status might have prepared them for the news of the result.
Adeniyi said though “we are still not out of the woods with COVID, there are enough signs to show that the worst is already behind us”. He added that the “pandemic is not something to fight alone” while emphasising the importance of family and community in dealing with the disease.
“Despite all the prayers in the house, I am not ashamed to admit that my faith failed. But my wife was strong in her conviction that we would all pull through and so were other members of the family. The armed robbery attack seems to have prepared them, causing everyone to band together to cook, watch Netflix movies and turn the ritual of taking medication into a fair. They sang. They danced. And last Saturday when I was going through a tough period, they practically dragged me out to cut my 22nd wedding anniversary cake they baked. And when I reflect on it all, it is perhaps their ‘madness’ that has kept me sane,” he wrote.
“Now, I understand the feeling of emptiness and despair that can engender loneliness even in the midst of a loving crowd. Those who have experienced COVID-19 will agree that it is more than a disease. It is something that can take the afflicted to dark haunting places where they question whether life is really worth living. I have been there. Since we were all infected, my family couldn’t understand why I have taken it so badly.
ELVINA IBRU
Nollywood actress Elvina Ibru has shared her experience with coronavirus.
The Bling Lagosians actress shared a video of herself explaining how the virus has separated her from her family in an Instagram post on Monday. She said the virus is real and no one should be discriminated for having it. “I just want to tell all of you that walk around without face masks or hand sanitisers that coronavirus is real and am currently battling the virus. I have been in one room all by myself. I can’t even hug my son, sisters, brother or any of my family members. “Anybody can contract this virus and I don’t think it’s something to be ashamed of or kept from the public. It’s better to let the people out there know that this is serious and it does exist,” she said.
Elvina also added that three days ago she was in a very bad state and could not do anything.
“I am very lucky to be able to make a video to let everyone know that this is true. Two days ago I couldn’t even do anything because I was constantly coughing and I was in a very bad state, “ she said. Elvina is an ex-presenter with Classic FM, Lagos. Her sister is singer Gloria Ibru. She is the daughter of the late industrialist Michael Ibru.
PETER OKOYE
“Hey, guys how are you all doing? Just want to let you guys know that for the past three weeks I have been sick. I have been ill and most people didn’t even know what was wrong with me. I kept it to myself for three weeks. Its been three weeks of hell for me and my family. I had Covid-19 for about 3 weeks,” he said.
“For those who noticed I was in my room during my draw instead of my usual location. I was self-isolated, I was imprisoned in my own house and it was just me, I was sick and I tested positive.” “The reason why I decided to come out to say it is because I want to encourage a lot of people concerning this whole social distancing and getting used to sanitising your hand, disinfecting your environment, and wearing your face mask.”
“Its been hell for this family and this house, it wasn’t just me but two of my domestic staff. Then after a week, my daughter caught the virus as well but it was sad that when she caught it, the doctor insisted that she has to be self-isolated in her own room. But my wife did something very courageous.”
“She picked our daughter from her room, held her and took her to the master bedroom and she called me and she started crying. I asked her what happened and she said I cannot live this girl alone. I would rather be infected and be with her.”
“Five or six days later, my daughter was pronounced negative. When she was pronounced negative, we knew it wasn’t going to end there. The next day, Lola became positive. It has been hell but we had a bad experience.Peter Okoye [Instagram/PeterPsquare]
ALI BABA
Nigeria’s king of comedy, Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as “Alibaba”, has urged Nigerians to be cautious and keep safe, saying COVID-19 pandemic is real. Akpobome, who only just survived the deadly virus, made the call on his Instagram page (alibabagcfr) on Monday.
He, however, advised Nigerians to desist from describing COVID-19 pandemic as a scam.
The comedian thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health, and other caregivers who worked tirelessly to keep him alive at the Yaba Isolation Centre, where he was quarantined. “COVID-19 is real. Don’t let anyone tell you it is a scam. I just came out of isolation, several people died, while I was there.
“Some of my close friends know and they were very supportive.
“I thank the Lagos State Governor, the Commissioner of Health, Managing Director of the COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Yaba, doctors, especially Dr Nifemi, who are risking their lives to keep us alive. Thanks also to the nurses.
“COVID-19 is real. Observe all the protocols, people are dying, and it is not a joke.
“In fact, anyone who says COVID-19 is a scam, is a compound idiot and a fool,” Alibaba wrote on his Instagram page.
JUDE OKOYE
“My wife is responding to treatment but I will not really say treatment because COVID does not have a cure. She is responding to the symptom she is getting. We got it about the same time; I got it and she got it from me. It was just a day gap before she got it from me.
“She is self-isolating at home. Everybody is fine including the kids; it is just that for my wife, she has recovered but she is having this post-recovery symptom. That is what is going on. Everybody is fine even though everybody in my family got it. Me, my wife, kids, nanny, everybody contracted the virus.”
Jude said that he believed that he caught the virus from his popular singing brother, Paul Okoye, fondly referred to as Rudeboy.
He further emphasized that he tried his best not to contract the virus but ‘it takes only one person to infect the whole family.”
“There is nothing I did not do in order not to contract the virus; I did social distancing, I stopped going out, I had hand sanitisers everywhere and I was wearing a face mask. But the fact that you have a cook that would go to the market and return, it takes just one person to bring it and pass it to the whole family. Just do your best because at the end of the day what will happen will happen.
“I believe I got the virus from Rudeboy because we normally sit together most times and he is the one that goes out for promotions. Somehow, I believe that I got it from him because I do not go out.”
Stating how the symptoms began, the music executive stated that he began feeling aches all over his body about the same time his brother also fell ill.
Jude said, “One weekend, I woke up feeling bad with aches and pains everywhere. I thought it was my AC that was too much but my wife got a call from Rudeboy. He asked if our doctor could come around to his place because he was having malaria. He was advised to have a COVID test because both of us could not fall ill at the same time. The doctor came and did a test and it was positive.
He continued, “I isolated myself for about two days and after that, my wife started complaining. I called the same doctor to test everybody in the house and everyone was confirmed positive. The funny part of the whole thing is that apart from me, my wife and one of the nannies, everyone was feeling fine. Nobody was complaining, especially the kids because they were very active. They did not show any symptoms; they were active and agile.”
Now he has been certified negative by his doctors. “The doctor has certified me negative but I will take all my family for another test next week to be sure that we are all COVID-19 negative,” he said.
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
Mr. Gboyega Akosile, who is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, has narrated how he, his wife and driver survived the COVID-19 disease. Akosile, in a statement, entitled, “Back on the beat, after defeating COVID-19,” released on Thursday, expressed gratitude to God for sparing his life after the battle with the pandemic.
Mr. Akosile first published his experience with COVID-19 on his Facebook page. “I thank God I am back at my duty post! I returned to work on, Wednesday, August 5, 2020 after several weeks away, battling the monstrous Coronavirus,” Akosile began his story. Akosile continued: “It began with a feverish condition on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. I usually don’t joke with my health, so I stopped at a pharmacy on my way home, got an anti-malaria drug with some paracetamol and I used it as recommended. “I must state here that I have never completed a full dose of any malaria treatment or drugs before getting back on my feet in my adult life, never! “In fact, you would have to remind me sometimes before taking my drugs because I would have felt well after taking the second dose. This time, I completed the malaria medicine yet there was no improvement. ‘By Thursday (July 2) evening and Friday (July 3) morning, my health condition had started to deteriorate. The feelings gradually moved from headaches to severe body pains and cold.
“Same day, I had a responsibility to organise a media briefing for my boss. I didn’t raise the alarm just yet because everybody was wary of everyone else, especially if you showed any signs of illness. But the truth is I was sick, terribly sick. “I told my wife on Thursday evening that there was a need for us to get tested for COVID-19. I convinced her that we needed to clear all doubts. “She understood clearly, knowing it may not be out of place that I had been exposed to the virus, especially now that Lagos was experiencing rise in community spread. “We drove straight to the Yaba Infectious Diseases Hospital on Friday morning and in less than an hour; the very efficient Lagos health workers in charge of sample collection and testing attended to us. “Although he was not ill and showed no signs of the virus, I encouraged my driver to join us for the test.
We left for Marina to continue with the day’s official activities. “While Mr. Governor was briefing and responding to questions from journalists, I stood there on the beautifully tendered State House lawn shaking from within. “I could feel that my legs were wobbling from inside my bone marrow. Not even the beauty of the grass, which I usually admire, could calm the way I felt. “I remember how much I tried to keep more than two metres away from some colleagues who had come to me for some clarifications on issues or points raised by Mr. Governor. “Since I was not sure of my status, I needed to take responsibility by ensuring that nothing was discharged into the atmosphere from my side. “I waited till the end of the press conference, managed to move towards my boss, but ensured that I didn’t move close to him. “In that socially distanced position, I informed him of my state of health and his response was direct, ‘have you gone for another test?’ he asked, because he had mandated his entire close aides to go for COVID-19 test on two or three occasions. “He has also done the test repeatedly, just for everyone to feel safe around the office. I answered him in the affirmative, ‘yes sir, I just did this morning. Results should be out on Sunday’. “He then said I should go home for a couple of days. I thanked him and I left the State House.
“No sooner had I left the State House than the real symptoms started in fearful proportion. To be honest, I was scared. I had never felt that way before in my entire life. “Driving from Marina to Ikeja felt like travelling from Lagos to New York. The vibrations and other bodily pains I experienced that day can’t be described here. “I rolled from one end of the vehicle to another. All I remember was my driver’s voice, saying ‘epele sir’ (sorry sir). It was excruciating! By the time we got home, my eyes had turned red, with the retinal looking the other way. My wife took over immediately as the resident nurse. The tests results “She was scared too, but she summoned courage and took charge. She insisted we went to the hospital. We did. I told the doctor that I had gone for COVID-19 test, but he said he would place me on another round of malaria treatment. “I took some shots that evening, repeated them on Saturday morning and evening. I went again on Sunday morning but there was no remarkable improvement.
By Sunday evening, our COVID-19 test results were sent to me via email. “My worst fear stared at me in the face; we all tested positive for Coronavirus— my wife, driver and I. I immediately called my driver to inform him. Clearly he was asymptomatic because as at that time and up till the time of writing this piece, he had no symptoms. “Life has been normal for him. Nonetheless, I insisted that he should self-isolate at home for 14 days and not go about infecting other people. “I duly informed my principal and then called my direct boss, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, the Chief of Staff to Governor Sanwo-Olu, who immediately made arrangements for my treatment. “The doctors called in and asked that we isolate at home. They tutored me on all the protocols, most of them I was already familiar with, having been part of the communication team on Lagos State Government’s response to COVID-19. “Case management started and in two days, I had lost my sense of smell, taste and every symptom that comes with COVID-19 had fully manifested in me. Trust me, it was not a particularly pleasant experience. “In eight to nine days of medication, the initial pains and discomfort started to disappear. I began to experience a new lease of life. My SPO2, which is a small device used in checking the flow of oxygen in a patient’s system was back to normal. “BP was good and body temperature returned to normal. This time, I could attend to work related issues. I started working from home. “Recall that three of us tested positive and one was asymptomatic.
My wife too showed some symptoms from Monday, July 5, so she was placed on same medication. “While I improved, her condition took a downward turn; her oxygen level was below the acceptable limit of 95! At first, it fluctuated between 90 and 94; sometimes it would hit 95 so I was hopeful. “Her Blood Pressure was also irregular. The value was inconsistent; sometimes good, at another time bad. “On Tuesday, July 14, her SPO2 went down to 88! That was when it dawned on everyone that she had to be evacuated to an isolation centre. She was taken to the Onikan Centre, where she received some of the best treatment that COVID-19 patients in the United States of America are looking for. “I don’t get scared easily by anything or situation. This time, I was very scared. I thought the worst phase of my life had come when after three days of her admission, she had not responded well to the treatment. She neither called home nor picked her phone. Everyone was worried. “Thanks to the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Health, the health workers; doctors, nurses and drivers, among others who ensured that my wife, like all the other patients that were brought in under very terrible conditions, returned home with joy.
“After spending five days, we started to connect again via video calls.” Akosile recalls. “Since I was not in the isolation centre, the closest was when I took her birthday cake there for a symbolic celebration; I could only rely on her experience, which she described as wholesome. “I decided to touch on my wife’s experience to draw attention to the fact that people do not necessarily die of COVID-19. You lose people to complications from underlining ailments. “Unknown to us, my wife had a silent case of pneumonia and had some blood clot-related issues. And since she had not fallen sick, these conditions never manifested in any form. Everyone in the house appeared healthy and truly so until the COVID-19 incident. “It is very important to conduct comprehensive medical checks, even if it is once in a year. If we had known this earlier, perhaps our experience would have been less traumatic when COVID-19 came calling.
OMOTOLA JALADE EKEINDE
I hardly fall ill and so when I left the set and started having chills the next day or so, I knew something wasn’t right. I thought it might be stress. This was on Monday, August 3. I waited till Tuesday and it got worse. I was shaking uncontrollably and my temperature was going through the roof.
My spirit told me immediately, this is not malaria or fever. I have been extremely careful and paranoid about this COVID-19 stuff. So I told hubby I needed to be tested immediately. I have a son that has Asthma!
They came to test me on Wednesday and my result came out on Thursday evening, Positive. My world crashed. I felt crazy and empty. My symptoms were high fever and chills… luckily no other. But it was so bad, they contemplated coming to evacuate me as my viral load was high and I wasn’t getting better … but God arose for me.
So they had to come test the whole family … I had infected my daughter and asthmatic son! My God showed up for me as my son is asymptotic, so positive but not sick! My daughter lost her smell and taste and had severe diarrhoea. All has stopped now, thank God.
We are all now in remission. It’s physically, spiritually and emotionally exhausting as the doctors tell you it’s a 50/50 chance. Nothing you do really saves you. You can only take the vitamins, manage the symptoms and hope your body fights.
Please this thing is real and we must come together to find the safest way to work and protect ourselves. I was one of the most careful persons you’d ever meet concerning COVID-19. Imagine if I believed because of that I couldn’t have been infected… I wish I wasn’t … but I was … I could have been going out and kept on infecting others.
PAUL OKOYE
Nigerian Singer, Paul Okoye of the defunct Psquare group also tested positive for COVID-19. Paul revealed this on his Instagram page. The singer further warned Nigerians to accept that coronavirus is real and obey all health guidelines. He wrote:
ATTENTION!!! F*ck it !!! Covid is REAL !!! I know as typical Nigerian or African its very hard to believe, some will say “experience is the best teacher, oh well, the experience and the teacher has visited me and they’ve been dealing with me for more than 10days now, sh*t is not funny ….. worst sickness ever!!! …… y’all better be careful out there, if you like believe me, if you like don’t believe me, you can as well wait for your own experience by playing ignorance Goodluck God help us all.
Paul Okoye’s illness came a few months after his twin brother Peter and his family were affected by the novel virus.
PAULINE TALLEN
Minister of women affairs, Pauline Tallen proceeded on self-isolation when she tested positive for Coronavirus in Abuja weeks ago. In a statement she issued, she disclosed that the following interaction with individuals who later showed signs of COVID-19, she was advised by her medical team to undergo a test and self-isolate for observation over a few days. Her words: “This is to inform the general public that after undergoing a test carried out on myself and members of my family, my result returned positive while that of members of my family was negative.
“Currently, I am asymptomatic and have gone into isolation during the period of treatment. “Please keep me in your prayers and I implore you all to stay safe and observe all COVID-19 protocols as we grapple with this pandemic. “I implore you all to stay safe and observe all COVID-19 protocols as we grapple with this pandemic”, she said. In the statement, she further urged Nigerians to take responsibility for themselves and their families in order to protect our dear country even more at this time.”
AZARDUS
The music star took to his Instagram page on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, where he wrote about his experience as a survivor of the virus. He went on to share photos from the facility where he received treatment while appealing to Nigerians to take extra precautions as the virus is real.
“My Survivor story with Covid-19 Glory be to God I just got discharged of Covid-19. Half bread is better than puff-puff That garri in your house is far better than the good meals you won’t be able to eat at the hospital,” he wrote.
My Advice, If you must go out, see everyone as that COVID-19 itself and wash your hands for 40secs at the least. Meanwhile, if you insist that Covid-19 is not real, Covid-19 is not in Nigeria or Africa, haaaaaaaaaa well, don’t be shy to ask me questions.””Please kindly say a word of prayer for @lagosstategovt Under our super caring Governor @jidesanwoolu God bless.”
