COVID-19: Reps Minority Leader, Elumelu urges colleagues on voluntary test

By Christiana Ekpa

The Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and members of his immediate family, as well as his domestic staff have tested negative to the dreaded coronavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19.
This was just as the Minority Leader advised his colleagues and staff of the National Assembly to do same so as to dispell raging speculations that the House may have been plagued with the virus.
Elumelu in statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja said that the second round of tests for himself and his household became necessary in the light of rumours that lawmakers are testing positive to the virus and are hiding their true status even from the leadership.
“I, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader House of Representatives, did another Covid-19 test on Friday 3rd of July with my family and other 11 domestic staff, and am happy to announce that the results came out negative”, he said.
Recall that the Minority Leader on March 30, 2020 also underwent a similar test with his family in London and announced that the results were all negative, calling on his colleagues and principal officers to take similar steps.
Elumelu, who was in isolation with his entire family in London at the time said, “we took the Corona virus test and result confirmed them all negative”.
“I urge every member and staff of the National Assembly to do same”, he added.
The House embarked on a one-week recess on Tuesday after a closed door session with members and the leadership before the adjournment of plenary.
Speculations were rife on Tuesday regarding the prevalence of the virus among lawmakers, just as over 50 of them were alleged to have tested positive and hiding their status.
The Minority leader is therefore encouraging members of the House including principal officers to undergo tests to know their status, and that being positive is not a death sentence as more people have been known to have recovered from the virus and are living healthy lives.