…Over renewed COVID-19 pandemic at COAS confab
For dignitaries who would want to use the opportunity of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai’s son’s wedding today, to have audience or felicitate with him, their hopes might, as well, be dashed, as the army chief has announced he will not be disposed for such pleasantries. Buratai’s son, Hamisu, would be getting married to his heart throb at a private ceremony in Abuja, today, December 11, 2020, with his father saying he would not be attending to guests at the event in a bid to protect himself and his family from the dreaded Covid-19 virus. Although it is customary for the father of a bride or bridegroom to wait pleasantly by and receive guests as the chief host in a social event like this, for Buratai today, it is a nay nay! This, he said, is to avoid flouting recommended protocols against the spread of COVID-19. Although the recommended protocol should have been to stay completely away from the public through self isolation for a whole 14 days, having, this week, presided over Chief of Army Staff conference in Abuja where a participant, Major-General Olu Irefin, tested positive, took ill and died soon after.
Buratai announced his decision to shun guests in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa, yesterday, December 10.
Musa said, “The Chief of Army Staff, on behalf of his family, feels honoured to sincerely appreciate, thank and welcome all dignitaries and invited guests to his son’s wedding slated for Friday, Dec. 11(today).
“However, due to the resurgence of the pandemic in the FCT, Buratai will be unable to personally attend to, receive, or meet you at the event. All inconveniences are hereby regretted please.”
Musa had earlier announced that Buratai had cancelled the ongoing COAS Annual Conference after a participant tested positive for COVID-19.
Recall that an Army top brass, Major-General Olu Irefin, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6-Division, had reportedly died yesterday of complications from COVID-19, while attending the annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja where he took ill and did not make it back alive, which might have jolted Buratai up to his bone marrows.
The State Online had reported that the unsavoury development had brought the COAS conference to an abrupt end leading to its cancellation, with mandate on all participants to proceed on immediate self isolation.
- Pix (below): Late Major-General Olu Irefin
