The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. (Dr.) Samson Ayokunle has said the Federal government should be held responsible for the premature relaxation of lockdown order to curtail the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking with Saturday INDEPENDENT on a telephone interview on Friday, the revered cleric said the government no longer has the moral right to close the doors of churches any longer, after it has allowed Nigerians to go back to markets, offices and banks, which according to him, “is less organised than churches.”
“Whatever people are saying today about the fear of relaxing the lockdown, it was the Federal government that should be held responsible. I have said it several times that the relaxation of lockdown by the Federal government was premature. How can you dare to relax the lockdown when the infection was on the increase? What was the rationale for the lockdown in the first place? But if you have allowed people to go to markets and offices, you have no moral right to lock the churches any longer. Is it not the same people that are going to markets, offices and banks that are going to church? I repeat it, if government has opened the doors for markets, why closing the church? It is unjustifiable and unreasonable. If they want to do it very well, banks are supposed to be opened only twice in a week but what do we see today? It is really embarrassing.
“It is government that has mounted pressure on church leaders to open the church. But you need to also know that churches and mosques in the north and some part of the east are not locked down especially in Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Bayelsa and the rest. They are going to church. It’s only few states in the south west that are locked down. Let the government open the churches. The church is more organised than the markets. There should be an arrangement to check temperature of worshippers before they enter. Once it is higher than standard, they should be sent back to the hospital. Churches should maintain social distancing, members should wear face masks, wash hands with water and use sanitisers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi State government has ordered the resumption of religious gathering in the state from today, Saturday.
As palliatives, the government has also released the sum of N36million and 726 bags of rice to church leaders and widows in the state.
In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, and made available to newsmen, Umahi directed that the resumption of religious activities is with immediate effect.
He, however, cautioned the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state to be vigilant in ensuring that worshippers adhere to measures put in place to control the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading in the state.
The statement reads in part: “In response to the passionate appeal made by the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi State chapter, and some of our revered bishops that religious centres be re-opened for worship, under strict observance of COVID-19 policy and state laws, and having prayerfully reviewed the request and in consultation with state leaders, the governor hereby directs that religious centres in the state be re-opened for worship once a week, effective from 15th May, 2020.
“All churches are to observe their service only on Sunday from 9am to 11 am. Seventh Day Adventist and Muslim faithful are to observe their service on Saturday and Friday respectively from 9 am – 11am. No religious centre shall permit more than 500 people (in the case of big churches) and worshipers shall observe a minimum of 2 meter social distancing from one another.
“Wearing of facemasks, washing of hands with running water and use of hand sanitisers must be strictly observed in all religious centres. No religious service is allowed to hold any other day other than the days specified herein and which must be in strict observance of all COVID-19 laws and regulations.”
He added: “CAN has a duty to close down any religious gathering and arrest the principal of the worship centre that violates this order. The Governor requests all religious bodies in the state to use this opportunity of window of worship to create awareness among their members on the protocols, policies, laws and regulations regarding COVID-19 and to pray for our dear state and Nigeria.
“They are also enjoined to use the opportunity to advise their members to aggressively participate in agriculture and other lawful means of livelihood. CAN leadership and Anti- COVID-19 Committee on Religious Centres are requested to please mount strict monitoring of all religious centres in the state and ensure strict compliance and discipline among them.”
The state government has also begun distribution of palliatives in Abakaliki, capital city of Ebonyi State.
Also, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has eased the restriction on worship places and social gatherings earlier imposed on the state following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Governor, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, said Churches, Mosques and the international cattle markets under lockdown can now reopen, but must ensure social distancing with not more than 50 people at a time.
According to the statement, other measures include provision of hand sanitizers or washing of hands and temperature checks at the point of entry.
“Government now believes the contagious rate is low enough to justify a cautious easing of the restriction, but warns that citizens must work extra hard on personal hygiene and strict adherence to laid down guidelines,” the statement said.
Fintiri said the easing of the lockdown comes as the state discharges five from its isolation center after testing negative for the virus.
The statement however said the 8pm to 6am curfew will remain till further notice.
The statement further warned interstate travellers who spread the virus to desist as huge penalties awaits them.
Archbishop Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos in a telephone chat with Saturday INDEPENDENT through Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, Director of Social Communications, Lagos Archdiocese, believed it was a right step for Ebonyi and Adamawa States to lift the ban on worship gathering, expressing that there was still need for government to keep tab on ensuring safety of citizens even as they lift the ban.
He stated, “I’m in Lagos and may not know the rationale behind the lifting of the ban in Ebonyi and other states but I’m sure they did their homework before lifting the ban in the states. It has been our concern in the Lagos Archdiocese that people are not allowed to gather for worship in churches. So we ask that between churches and markets which can perform well in crowd control? I’m
speaking of the mainstream church, which the Catholic church belong of which I’m a part of.
“So far, there have been discussions underground between CAN and government I believe the right thing would be done. Italy and some parts of United States have lifted the ban on church gatherings. At the same time all of us must apply wisdom in dealing with this deadly virus. Government must continue to take necessary precautions in curtailing the spread.”
Rev. Dr. Elisha Ogundiya, former Chairman Osun State, said the lift was of mixed feelings, fearing that it was like taking a risk.
“The ban lift is of mixed feelings. Though it gives opportunity to resume gathering to fellowship, humanly speaking it is like risking people’s lives because there is no cure yet for the virus. When people say markets are open they forget that churches are not in any competition with markets, we all need food to survive.
“Churches in the mentioned states can gather but there is still need to restrict interstate movement and need for human activities to be controlled to avoid further spread. We know Nigeria is not like advanced world where people are well organised,” Ogundiya stated also in a telephone interview
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