A former council legislator, Hon Barnabas Ejuku Abiodun, has called on Kogi State Government to reverse its recent decision to lift ban on religious activities in the state.
Reacting to the state government directive in Lokoja on Friday, Abiodun said though the decision may have been taken in good faith, it is ill-advised considering the rising cases of people infected with coronavirus all over Nigeria.
“I know the decision may have been taken in consideration of giving the faithfuls the opportunity to pray together and interceding on behalf of the state and nation for God’s mercy and divine protection during this period, however, it is premature because the underlying reason why the Federal and state governments took the drastic decision to restrict gathering was to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“Since the spread of coronavirus has not yet shown any sign of abating but rather increasing nationwide, it is not yet uhuru.
“Isolation is scriptural and has been a normal practice of our ancestors even before the modern era as inspired by the Holy books. Hence, in acting on infection control in Islam, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) instituted strategies that are today implemented by public health authorities. He commanded his followers not to travel to places known to be afflicted with illness and he advised those in the contaminated areas or communities not to leave and spread the disease further afield. In Sahihs of Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet said: ‘If you hear that there is a plague in a land,do not enter it; and if it (plague) visits a land while you are therein, do not go out of it.’
“Similarly, the Holy Bible, the book of Isaiah 26:20 reads; ‘Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.’
“Movement and contact is therefore the two necessary conductors needed for a continuous spread of the virus and if the dictates of the holy scriptures is to go by, it is not yet time to lift the ban on congregation and gatherings for religious purposed because the books were emphatic on staying indoors and staying safe till the pandemic ends,” he said.
Abiodun appealed to the state government to rescind its decision to lift ban on religious gatherings as such gatherings could still be recipe for spread of disease among the people.
He further advised the government to do more in the aspect of sensitization and public enlightenment of the people on the gains of staying at home and mechanisms of staying safe.
He commended the state committee on Covid-19 on their success so far towards ensuring the protection and safety of Kogites in this period.
