COVID-19: NDT says Onojeghen in safe hands, not neglected ~ Truth Reporters
29 June 2020 | 5:02 pm
The Management of Niger Delta Today (NDT), has debunked a statement credited to Omemiroro Ogedegbe, alleging NCDC and DTSG negligent handling of the case of its Managing Editor, Theophilus Onojeghen, who tested positive to COVID-19.
It said the statement was a figment of the imagination of the writer who neither spoke to him nor contacted him on his condition before going to press.
NDT further said NCDC and DTSG took necessary steps to ensure that the family members of the Editor were adequately attended to having been exposed to the virus.
The Statement reads "Niger Delta Today (NDT), online publishers of “news you can trust” are as shocked and disappointed as our numerous readers, newsmakers and followers, including the Delta State Government (DTSG) over a statement credited to Omes Ogedegbe, alleging NCDC and DTSG negligent handling of the case of our Managing Editor, Theophilus Ovie Okpare Onojeghen, who tested positive to COVID-19.
"Ordinarily, we would not want to join issues with anyone regarding the health of our editor, but this has become necessary to set the records straight.
"Since our Managing Editor tested positive, Ogedegbe has not contacted or interacted with him, even as NDT made news of his COVID-19 status public.
"NDT affirms here that Ogedegbe’s wild imaginations does not reflect our Editor’s condition or any opinion sought at any point from him by Ogedegbe.
"While it’s common knowledge that all stakeholders are yet challenged from meeting perfection in the fight against a ravaging global pandemic, NDT attest that Onojeghen has never been neglected by NCDC or the DTSG. Both stakeholders have been well meaning from the go, from sample collection, through test to even now that our Editor is undergoing treatment at a state Isolation Center.
"Against Ogedegbe’s assertion, NCDC at the point of evacuating our Editor, took necessary information and set modalities for contact tracing on account of Onojeghen, with same attention being put in place on dealing with the case of his wife and son at the moment.
"Ogedegbe made reference to our Editor's wife and son not having been tested without acknowledging that fact that there are protocols which are being duly followed by our observations.
"Ogedegbe couldn’t have also known that beyond NCDC and DTSG commendable attention, there has also been outpouring of concern by various other stakeholders including a former Governor who has been sacrificially offering expert advice almost every hourly as an accomplished medical expert.
"It's unfortunate that even after proving to Ogedegbe that he faltered in jumping to conclusion without any interaction with our Editor, he has continued to spread his misinformation, even against further intervention by other concerned stakeholders, giving us the impression that he has ulterior motives for this display of impunity.
"We advise Ogedegbe not to use the case of our editor to prosecute this needless politicisation of COVID-19 in Delta. More critically, his crying more than the bereaved poses more threat to the condition of our Editor who is being inundated by ceaseless calls from individuals or groups wanting to confirm if the vexed falsehood has the approval of Onojeghen who should be having enough rest to speed up his recovery.
"As a medium reputed for integrity, many of our readers can attest to the fact that if our Editor is being ill treated as he undergoes recovery process, NDT will sound the alarm so loud no matter whose ox is gored.
"We therefore ask the NCDC and DTSG, directly maligned by the falsehood and the general public to disregard the fabrications being spread by Ogedegbe. Our Editor is in safe hands and NDT thanks all who continue to show genuine concern as we pray speedy recovery for our boss,"
It said the statement was a figment of the imagination of the writer who neither spoke to him nor contacted him on his condition before going to press.
NDT further said NCDC and DTSG took necessary steps to ensure that the family members of the Editor were adequately attended to having been exposed to the virus.
The Statement reads "Niger Delta Today (NDT), online publishers of “news you can trust” are as shocked and disappointed as our numerous readers, newsmakers and followers, including the Delta State Government (DTSG) over a statement credited to Omes Ogedegbe, alleging NCDC and DTSG negligent handling of the case of our Managing Editor, Theophilus Ovie Okpare Onojeghen, who tested positive to COVID-19.
"Ordinarily, we would not want to join issues with anyone regarding the health of our editor, but this has become necessary to set the records straight.
"Since our Managing Editor tested positive, Ogedegbe has not contacted or interacted with him, even as NDT made news of his COVID-19 status public.
"NDT affirms here that Ogedegbe’s wild imaginations does not reflect our Editor’s condition or any opinion sought at any point from him by Ogedegbe.
"While it’s common knowledge that all stakeholders are yet challenged from meeting perfection in the fight against a ravaging global pandemic, NDT attest that Onojeghen has never been neglected by NCDC or the DTSG. Both stakeholders have been well meaning from the go, from sample collection, through test to even now that our Editor is undergoing treatment at a state Isolation Center.
"Against Ogedegbe’s assertion, NCDC at the point of evacuating our Editor, took necessary information and set modalities for contact tracing on account of Onojeghen, with same attention being put in place on dealing with the case of his wife and son at the moment.
"Ogedegbe made reference to our Editor's wife and son not having been tested without acknowledging that fact that there are protocols which are being duly followed by our observations.
"Ogedegbe couldn’t have also known that beyond NCDC and DTSG commendable attention, there has also been outpouring of concern by various other stakeholders including a former Governor who has been sacrificially offering expert advice almost every hourly as an accomplished medical expert.
"It's unfortunate that even after proving to Ogedegbe that he faltered in jumping to conclusion without any interaction with our Editor, he has continued to spread his misinformation, even against further intervention by other concerned stakeholders, giving us the impression that he has ulterior motives for this display of impunity.
"We advise Ogedegbe not to use the case of our editor to prosecute this needless politicisation of COVID-19 in Delta. More critically, his crying more than the bereaved poses more threat to the condition of our Editor who is being inundated by ceaseless calls from individuals or groups wanting to confirm if the vexed falsehood has the approval of Onojeghen who should be having enough rest to speed up his recovery.
"As a medium reputed for integrity, many of our readers can attest to the fact that if our Editor is being ill treated as he undergoes recovery process, NDT will sound the alarm so loud no matter whose ox is gored.
"We therefore ask the NCDC and DTSG, directly maligned by the falsehood and the general public to disregard the fabrications being spread by Ogedegbe. Our Editor is in safe hands and NDT thanks all who continue to show genuine concern as we pray speedy recovery for our boss,"
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