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The Ondo State Government has announced its stand on the issue surrounding Easter celebration in the state because of the social distancing measure announced to prevent the further spread of Coronavirus, COVID-19 in the country.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo made this known in a statement issued concerning the celebration and the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in the state.
According to the statement, the State Government acknowledged concerns expressed in many quarters as regards allowing Christians to celebrate Easter Sunday.
“Government deems it necessary to clarify that much as it appreciates public concern over this matter, there is no need for any misgivings. As a matter of fact, the position of CAN and the Government Statement should be seen as mutually inclusive.
CAN’s statement is explicit enough that Government had graciously granted sa special relief to enable Christians to celebrate Easter Sunday, as one of the most important annual celebrations of the Church.
That is the true position; more so that the word ‘restriction’ advisedly applied to provide the caveat for this special concession in line with crowd control regulations.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner added that the state Government had communicated to the state police command as regards the easter celebration.
“Accordingly, the State Government has already communicated to the Ondo State Police Command, this concession granted CAN to, as it were, temporise and allow the celebration of Easter Sunday in CHURCHES.
This is, however, without prejudice to all precautionary measures and guidelines earlier put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic as enunciated in Government’s earlier statements and as agreed to by the leadership of CAN.
However, the Commissioner for information emphasised that there would be no easter retreat to avoid public gathering until further notice.
For emphasis, there will be no Easter Retreat (Good Friday Programmes) or the Jumat service gatherings on Friday or ‘Gallilee’ on Monday. The ban on all social, political and religious gatherings continues afterwards, until further notice.
Earlier, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has announced social distancing as one of the measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19.