We’ll Ensure Full Compliance With Govt Guidelines – Religious Leaders

By Idowu Adebayo

Religious leaders in the State of Osun have
​expressed their readiness to ensure that the
​guidelines listed by the state government to reopen worship centres are fully adhered to.

The government had in March ordered the closure of religious centres in the state as part of efforts to curtail the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

However, the Presidential Task Force had on Tuesday disclosed that states would take final decisions on the reopening of worship centres based on the guidelines it issued.

The state government which met with the religious leaders gave guidelines that states that: ‘only regular church services of not more than one hour, and maximum of two services would be allowed, and that Jumat service including khutbah (sermon) and prayers must not exceed 20 minutes.

The conditions also prohibit churches and mosques from holding vigils and children activities remain suspended, and that worship centres with support of security operatives should set up taskforce to enforce compliance with measures put in place by the government among others.

In separate interviews with the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev.  Amos Ogunrinde and the Chairman of the Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi, the religious leaders promised to see to total compliance with the guidelines.

They said the guidelines were agreed to by the religious leaders in a meeting with the government.

According to Olawuyi, temporary opening of the worship centres was a test, which could metamorphose to full opening of the worship centers later.

He said: “We were carried along in the process and the conditions were what we agreed on at the meeting.  It is just for a while, after two weeks of total compliance, it may be adjusted.  It is for the good of everybody and to ensure we don’t lose the gains we have earlier recorded.”

In his reaction, the Osun CAN chairman said the guidelines were part of the conditions sent to the governor, pleading with head of churches to comply with the guidelines.

He also urged Christians to, within the limited hours, pray for the patients, the state and against the virus.

Ogunrinde said:  “We are always organized people and since it is in the interest of the masses and it’s to sustain the lives of the people we welcome the one hour given to us for now and we would see to how we can manage our time, praying for improved condition for residents, Coronavirus patients, workers at the frontline, the state and the country at large. It is only God who can take the virus away. Clergymen should ensure they pray for that too.

“We discussed the guidelines together and it was what the CAN submitted, they (government) only added some to it and it is welcome by us.  We plead with our church leaders to abide by the guidelines”.