Ondo government cautions CAN against flouting directive on cross-over service

Oyo urges discretion, reintroduces fresh measures, bans street carnivals

Ondo State Government has urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) not to flout the directive to adhere strictly to the 10:00pm to 4:00am curfew imposed on December 31, 2020 which outlaws New Year cross-over services.

In a statement issued in Akure yesterday, Chairman, Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, urged the association not to disregard government’s directive.

“The attention of the Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19 has been drawn to a statement reported in some sections of the media as purportedly made by the state chapter of CAN.

“COVID-19 is a health issue and NOT a religious issue. It is, therefore, absurd for CAN to indicate that the state government cannot take technical decisions on health matters without consulting its leaders.

“The order of a curfew from 10.00 pm to 4:00p.m. is a subsisting public health order that has been in operation for several months and aimed fundamentally at safeguarding the health of the citizens,” the statement reads

But CAN Chairman, Reverend John Oladapo had said the association was unaware of the directive, urging Christians in the state to hold crossover services.

Oladapo was quoted in a publication to have called on Christians to disregard government’s directive on the curfew aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19.

But Fatusi insisted that it was imperative that everyone adhered strictly to government directive.

MEANWHILE, the Oyo State Government said that there would no longer be street carnivals in the state to ensure strict compliance and containment of the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols, as not less than 50 deaths had been recorded.

Coordinator of the Oyo State Task Force on COVID-19, Prof. Temitope Alonge disclosed this at a media briefing to update members of the public on new development on the global pandemic.

He admonished the Oyo State chapter of CAN to observe the national directive by advising their members to ensure that the pass over services had been shelved as it was done in Lagos and other states.

“I know that CAN in Lagos State after the release from the state government, held meeting and directed that churches should comply with the national directive to complete their services early enough and go home.

“We ask CAN in Oyo State to do the same, admonish and advise their members to comply with the national directive, as it is not an Oyo State directive and we believe that was in general good.”