Emmanuel Abodunrin
The Supreme Head, Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Prophet Solomon Alao, has called on religious leaders to provide palliatives to vulnerable persons in the society, given the discomfort and hunger occasioned by the lockdown imposed on some states and the Federal Capital Territory by the government.
Baba Alao, in his goodwill message to celebrate this year’s Easter Sunday, also called on the government to be more transparent in the distribution of its palliatives, adding that more persons should be accommodated in the welfare package.
This is just as President Muhammadu Buhari on Easter Monday extended the lockdown declared in Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun states to prevent the spread of the dreaded coronavirus for another 14 days.
Buhari said this in a 7 pm nationwide broadcast on Monday.
He said the decision to extend the initial 14-day lockdown was taken “having carefully considered the briefings and report from the Presidential Task Force and the various options offered.”
“It has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun states as well as the FCT for another 14 days effective from 11:59 pm on Monday, 13th of April, 2020.
“I am therefore once again asking you all to work with the government in this fight.
“This is not a joke. It is a matter of life and death. Mosques in Makkah and Madina have been closed. The Pope celebrated Mass on an empty St. Peter’s Square.
“The famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris held Easter Mass with less than 10 people. India, Italy and France are in complete lockdown. Other countries are in the process of following suit. We cannot be lax.”
Baba Alao urged Nigerian leaders to emulate Jesus Christ who sacrificed himself for the redemption of mankind.
A statement by the church’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Apostle Muyiwa Adeyemi, quoted Alao as saying, “As the whole world is currently working together irrespective of creed or race to find solutions to the coronavirus pandemic, so also I expect them to work together to find solutions to hunger, starvation and sicknesses in countries of the world.
“I plead with all churches and leaders to be their brothers’ keepers at this moment. The lockdown is having an adverse effect on the well-being of some people as some families are finding it difficult to feed. Show empathy and share whatever you have with your neighbours that do not have food.”
He prayed God to heal the victims in various hospitals and accept the soul of those who died during this pandemic.
In his goodwill message to celebrate this year’s Good Friday, the clergy had said the world would have been a better place if leaders led by example and were ready to make sacrifices, especially now that the world seemed to be on trial.
He directed all C&S churches to attend to the welfare of all their members and neighbours that were vulnerable.
While pleading with the government to ensure that the palliatives got to the vulnerable in the society, Alao advised that the government could use the BVN of the citizens to reach out to them.
He, therefore, advised all Nigerians to obey government instructions on preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus by constantly washing their hands, observing social distancing and obeying lockdown order.
“He
prayed God to heal the patients in various hospitals and accept the soul of
those who died during this pandemic,” the statement added.
Discussion about this post