Yemisi Izuora
Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, has called on the Lagos State Government to ease the restriction placed on religious gatherings in the State.
The Archbishops reaction was in response to the position of the state government to further shut places of worship as indicated by thenCommissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi.
The Commissioner said this on the sideline of the 2020 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the first year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
However, the Federal Government had on June 1 lifted the ban on mosques and churches in the country based on guidelines and protocols agreed with state governments.
Elegushi said the reopening of the worship centres was not possible soon as the state was the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “Even before the pronouncement by Federal Government, we have been having meetings with the religious leaders.
“We even had one with Lagos State Safety Commission, looking at the possibility of reopening of religious houses.
“We also had one with the leaders of the two faiths.
And I want to tell you categorically that at that meeting, possibility of reopening religious houses was ruled out totally.
“They claimed that they cannot take such responsibility of ensuring that only 20 or 50 people are praying behind them.
“Like an Imam said, he doesn’t know what is going on at the back immediately he is leading a prayer.
“He said if more than 20 or 50 people are staying at his back, he is not going to take responsibility for their presence.
“So, in the meeting, we ruled out in totality the issue of reopening the religious houses until we have a clear coast for us to do so.
“The Federal Government mentioned it, but it never ruled out the state in achieving that pronouncement.
“So all states will have to look at possibility of doing so in their respective states.
“We all know Lagos is still having more figures.
“So definitely that will speak to our decision.”
But in a statement released by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the Prelate wondered why it would seem that there is a conclusion that it is when people gather to worship that coronavirus can be spread while the spread of the virus is suspended when they cluster and huddle together in markets, motor parks and banks.
“There is no doubt that the COVID-19 Pandemic is real, and we all feel concerned that the numbers are rising. However, we know also that the virus will be with us for some time and more testing will reveal more infected persons but at the same time the truth is that life must go on. We believe strongly that Churches as institutions are better able to exert control of situations and maintain discipline among their faithful than most other institutions.”
“The argument that we can pray in our individual houses and God will hear our prayers is true but it is also true for us as Christians that gathering together to worship is our heritage and practice arising from the Holy Bible. It was in the gathering of the Apostles that the Holy Spirit came down upon them (Acts.2:1); the early Christians gathered together in private homes for prayers and the breaking of the Bread (Acts 2:46) until the numbers became too large to handle in private homes and it became necessary to have Church buildings. If Christians were willing to suspend their right to gather in Church buildings for the sake of common good at a time when all gatherings of people were suspended, it is unfair and unjust for government to restrict gatherings for worship when other gatherings are being allowed. Anyone who argues that gathering to worship is not essential as it is to eat and get money from the bank, obviously does not understand the spiritual, emotional, and psychological soothing that Christians get from gathering together to worship. In any case, are we saying that it is more dangerous for people to gather to worship than it is to gather for banking and trading or that it is gathering for worship that is responsible for the spread of the virus? If it was the case in some Asian country, that was before awareness was created and precautions began to be taken as we do today.
We consider the position of Lagos State government before now that it would approve a set of guidelines and monitor adherence to them as being fair and just. The monitoring is even more easily done in Churches than in markets and motor parks or other places where the virus can even be more easily spread. This “volte face” of government gives the impression that the position of Christians is considered secondary and of no consequence in the affairs of the state.
The leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lagos State presented a set of Guidelines for gradual restoration of Public worship to government as our indication of readiness to take all due precautions and submit ourselves to be checked up for compliance. I wonder why the Honourable Commissioner did not state that fact but decided to state only the opinion of one imam. If people of other religions are permitted by their religious traditions to worship anywhere convenient and not necessarily in gatherings, that should not be taken as the yardstick by which all other religious traditions should practice their faith.”
Going on further, the Archbishop appealed to Lagos State government to take Religious leaders into confidence and keep in mind that we are partners in ensuring the safety of our people and are as concerned that the virus is contained as government is. He stated that the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos have gone so far as to prepare her own in-house elaborate guidelines to ensure the safety and well being of our faithful. He prayed for enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that the governor would take the right decision.
