It was an unusual Sunday yesterday as Churches and Mosques across Ondo state complied with the state government’s directive banning gathering of all sort.
Most of the churches were locked as their leaders and members held services in their respective homes.
The directive was to prevent the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has described as a pandemic.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has said that the number of infected cases in Nigeria had risen to 97 on Saturday night, with one fatality.
The Ondo state Special Task Force in charge of enforcing the “no gathering” directive, went round Akure, the state capital to monitor the level of compliance by mosques and churches last Friday and on Sunday.
At Greenville Christian Centre, Oyemekun road Akure, the pastor in charge, Pastor Sam Neye, who was conducting his church service online, said that his church was in support of the government directive.
However, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Oyemekun Road, about 15 worshippers were found in the church despite the fact that no mass was held.
Efforts to speak with the priest in charge proved abortive as he declined to speak with journalists, but one of the church leaders said that the people only came to pray on their own as no service was conducted.
Also, at All Saints Anglican Church, Ijomu Akure, people were found within the church premises. The Vicar of the church, Venerable Herbert Nwadilora said that the church was in compliance with the directive of the state government.
Reports from Ondo, Owo and Akoko, Ikare, Oka, Akungba, Ikun Isua and Ifira Akoko also showed that there was total compliance by mosques and churches in the areas.
Founder of Christ Apostolic Church Oke-Iyanu Ondo, Pastor MimolOluwa Adedoyin said that all the churches complied with the directives of the state authorities in curbing the spread of the Virus, urging Christians to pray for God’s intervention in the country during this period.
Reacting to the level of compliance by churches in the state, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ondo State, Pastor Ayo Oladapo appreciated the Christians for their compliance.
He stated that they will continue to abide by the social distancing directive as long as the pandemic persists.
“If the coast is not clear yet, let the ban continue and today people worship in their homes. We are in a technological oriented time when people can worship without coming together.
Supporting the CAN Chairman, the Bishop of Akure Anglican Diocese, Rt, Rev’d Simeon Borokini said that the directive of the government is for the good of the people and it is better for the people to follow it.
“We all know what is going on in the country and all over the world with this Covid-19 which is ravaging nearly every country. And we are very fortunate not to have recorded any case in Ondo state and we pray we do not record any,” he said.
The clergymen who spoke urged Christians to pray fervently and study the Bible at home; hoping that this time shall pass very soon.
Earlier on Friday, none of the mosques, where Muslims in the state observe Juma’at service was opened for worship.
Reports from other towns in the state also showed that all the mosques were in total compliance with the directive of the state government.
Reacting to the compliance, the Chief Iman of Owo who is also Chairman, Council of Imams and Alfas in Ondo State, Sheikh Ahmad Adegoke Aladesawe called on Muslims as well as people of other religions to obey the government directive.
Also, the Chief Imam of Akure, Sheikh Yayi Akorede, the Chief Imam of Ikare Akoko, Sheikh Abbas Mohamed Abubakar and the Olubaka of Okaland, Alhaji Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, commended Muslim faithful in the state and urged them to adhere strictly to government directive to close all central mosques as part of sacrifices required to curb the spread of the pandemic.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr Doyin Odebowale, who led the special task force team to enforce compliance in the state, expressed happiness at the level of compliance by the worship centres.
“I have been telling people that very few of our citizens are the recalcitrant ones; majority of them know the gravity of the problem we face as a people. So I am very happy with the level of compliance,” he added.
The Hope
