Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki says he fought off pressure to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.
Mr Obaseki and his deputy Philip Shaibu received their first jabs of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine days after the state received more than 81,080 doses of the vaccine from the Federal Government.
Obaseki received the vaccine at 12:28 a. m. while his deputy received at 12:30 a. m.
They took the vaccine during the COVID-19 vaccination inauguration ceremony in Benin.
Obaseki gave the assurance of the safety of the vaccine.
He said: “On the balance of risk, this vaccine is safe, we understand the politics of vaccination particularly as it relates to this.
“When polio vaccine was introduced several years ago, fears were expressed but the world went ahead with vaccinating against polio.
“Today, we’ve been able to kick out polio from our society; so, there is nothing new with this vaccine and the politics of the vaccine.
“I decided this morning against all pressure to make myself available to take the vaccine, and I have done so.”
Obaseki described the vaccination as a seamless exercise.
“I am encouraging all of us in Edo to listen to the fears being expressed, but go ahead and take the vaccine particularly, our healthcare workers who are daily exposed to COVID-19 patients.
“Our elderly and those with underlying medical conditions should please go ahead and get vaccinated.
“We have doses for 40,000 people to be vaccinated, I am very proud of the COVID-19 team in Edo that has helped us to respond to the outbreak,” he said.
Wife of the governor Besty Obaseki and wife of the deputy governor Maryann Shaibu were also vaccinated.
Other dignitaries who were vaccinated are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) Senator Clifford Ordia (Edo Central), and Secretary to Edo Government Osarodion Ogie.
Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Benin Rev. Augustine Akubeze; a former national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship Nigeria Rev. Felix Omobude; and the chief imam of Benin Abdufatah Enabulele were equally vaccinated.
