By Pascal Oparada
Not many would think that Coronavirus, which started in faraway Wuhan in China would have a devastating effect on humanity.
The pandemic on the rampage across the globe has claimed the lives of some of the biggest and brightest in the world.
And the threat of the pandemic is not yet over as the disease is still on the prowl looking for more victims among the thousands in critical conditions across the world.
Celebrities
John Prine
The influential singer-songwriter, known for songs like “Angel from Montgomery” and “Hello in There,” died April 7 from complications due to COVID-19. Dubbed: “The Mark Twain of American songwriting” by Rolling Stone, Prince won a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys earlier this year.
Adam Schlesinger
The Grammy-winning Fountains of Wayne singer, best known for the 2003 hit “Stacy’s Mom,” died of complications from Coronavirus on April 1. Schlesinger won three Emmys, including for his work on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” and was nominated for an Oscar for writing “That Thing You Do” from the 1996 Tom Hanks movie of the same name.
Manu Dibango
The African jazz-funk saxophone legend died of Coronavirus on March 24. He was 86. Dibango who was born in Cameroon and moved to Paris at 15, was best known for the 1972 hit “Soul Makossa,” sampled by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones on “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” plus songs by Will Smith, Kanye West, Rihanna and A Tribe Called Quest.
Joe Diffie
Country singer and songwriter Joe Diffie died March 29 at age of 61. According to his publicist, Diffie died from complications relating to Coronavirus. Diffie had a string of hits during the ’90s including “If You Want Me To,” “Home,” “Whole Lotta Gone,” “C-O-U-N-T-R-Y,” “The Quittin’ Kind,” “Texas Size Heartache,” “A Night to Remember,” “Third Rock From the Sun,” and “Pickup Man.” He also wrote songs for Tim McGraw, Conway Twitty, and Jo Dee Messina.
Alan Merrill
Singer, guitarist, and songwriter Alan Merrill died March 29 in New York at the age of 69 as a result of Coronavirus. Merrill was best known for writing the track “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
He originally wrote and recorded the iconic song while a member of the band the Arrows, which released the track in 1975. The song would later become a huge hit for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, who topped the charts with the tune in 1982.
Mark Blum
Actor Mark Blum died March 25 at the age of 69. Blum was an accomplished stage actor who appeared in numerous Broadway productions, including Lost in Yonkers, The Best Man, and The Assembled Parties, and won an Obie Award for the Playwrights Horizons production of Gus and Al. He also brightened up the big screen with roles in films like Crocodile Dundee, Desperately Seeking Susan and Lovesick. More recently, he recurred on the TV shows Mozart in the Jungle, You, and Succession.
Sport
Pape Diouf
A former sports journalist, a legendary football agent and former president of Olympique Marseille football club, Pape Diouf, 68, is the first COVID-19 victim of Senegal.
On Tuesday 31 March in the late afternoon, the news of Pape Diouf’s infection by the Coronavirus, announced by La Provence, quickly made the rounds of editorial offices and provoked numerous reactions on social networks.
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Terrence McNally
Prolific playwright Terrence McNally, whose works included Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Ragtime, and Kiss of the Spider Woman, died on March 24 from complications of Coronavirus. He was 81.
McNally, a winner of four Tony Awards and recipient of the 2019 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, always seemed to cast an eye toward those who suffer for (or because of) their art as well the disenfranchised and regretful as the man behind the backbones of dozens of plays and musicals over the years.
Lucia Bosè
Italian actress Lucia Bosè died at the age of 89, her son announced on March 23. She died of pneumonia after contracting COVID-19.
Bosè appeared in films from some of the most famous directors in Italy, like Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Lady Without Camelias and Federico Fellini’s Fellini Satyricon.
Nigerians in the Diaspora who died on the frontline of fighting Coronavirus
On Thursday, April 9, the Federal Government of Nigeria released names of Nigerians who died as a result of Coronavirus abroad.
The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa released the names in a 55-second video detailing their names. Among them are healthcare workers.
Dr. Alfa Sa’adu
Born in Nigeria, Dr Sa’adu completed his secondary education and medical degrees in the UK, before going back to Nigeria to manage a District General Hospital in Niger State. He later returned to the UK and completed a Diploma, Masters and subsequently a PhD in Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Although he retired in 2017, he returned to work on a part-time basis at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Hertfordshire. As a geriatrician, his work meant that he was treating patients at most risk of the COVID-19 infection on a daily basis. With over 40 years of medical practice, he was no doubt aware of the risk to himself, particularly given that at 68, he was also in a higher-risk category.
Carol Jamabo
Mother-of-two Carol Jamabo, 56, worked as a carer in the community for Cherish Elderly Care in Bury.
Ms Jamabo moved to the UK from Nigeria in the early 1990s and was a key worker for more than 25 years.
She previously worked in the prison service and as an NHS administrator at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Most recently, she worked as a carer in the community after moving to Bury to be closer to her two children, Tonye Selema, 25, and Abiye Selema, 22, a student at Leeds University.
Ms Jamabo became suddenly unwell at her home while with her youngest son and was then rushed to the hospital.
She is not thought to have had any major underlying health conditions but did suffer from asthma.
Bode Ajanlekoko
Bode Ajanlekoko died on Thursday. Until his death, he was a Mental Health Nurse by Profession and died in the process of helping other nurses who were infected by the virus.
An alumnus of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School where he passed out in 1984. He has been living in the United Kingdom for decades.
Aged 53, he is survived by a wife and children.
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He joined a list of several Nigerians living abroad that died of the disease.
Chidimma Onajide
On Wednesday, April 1, Onajide was pronounced dead from Coronavirus in the UK.
She is survived by husband and an eight-month-old baby.
Notable politicians still afflicted with COVID-19
Abba Kyari
On March 24, Nigerians were jolted when it was announced that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari has contracted Coronavirus. His was the index case in Nigeria’s seat of power.
The announcement reverberated across the Aso Rock Villa and across Nigeria. There were worries that the president may have contracted the disease. It was reported that Buhari was almost immediately tested and was confirmed negative.
Seyi Makinde
Oyo State is the third most infected state in Nigeria behind Lagos, Abuja and Osun states. Among those who have been infected by the virus is the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.
On March 30, Makinde announced to a bewildered country that he had contracted the disease and immediately went into isolation. He has since recovered.
Bala Mohammed
Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed generated controversy with his announcement that he had contracted the disease. According to him, he went into isolation after coming in contact with Mohammed Atiku Abubakar, the son of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, a claim Abubakar had since refuted. The Bauchi governor has recovered from the ailment.
Nasir el-Rufai
The index case in Kaduna State was no less controversial as the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai announced to Nigerians that he has Coronavirus and immediately started self-isolation.
Boris Johnson
The United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced two weeks ago that he has developed mild symptoms of Coronavirus and began self-isolating.
His condition began to degenerate after having difficulty in breathing and was moved to the Intensive Care Unit of St. Thomas’ Hospital where media reports said he received about four litres of oxygen.
Sports
Mike Arteta
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta was one of the first premiership personality to confirm he had contracted the dreaded Coronavirus.
But the Arsenal boss says he has since recovered from the virus.
“It took me three or four days to start feeling better, with more energy, to leave the symptoms behind,” Arteta told Spanish TV channel La Sexta.
“I am very well now. I feel that I have recovered.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Stamford Bridge was rattled when one of the players of Chelsea football club, Calum Hudson-Odoi announced early February that he had tested positive to Coronavirus.
The winger posted a video on social media, in which he said: “As you may be aware I had the virus for the last couple of days, which I’ve recovered from. I’m following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully be back on the pitch very soon.”
Kevin Durant
The novel Coronavirus hit an NBA team, Brooklyn Nets, as four players, including American superstar Kevin Durant tested positive for the COVID-19.
“He tested positive but is feeling fine and said he has not shown symptoms,” The Athletic said on its website late Tuesday as Durant, 31, told them.
“Everyone is careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We’re going to get through this,” the Nets forward said.
