9th April, 2020
Ondo State, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has given Christians the go-ahead to celebrate Easter but noted that the ban on religious gathering still in force.
Akeredolu made this known in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo.
He stated that the waiver given to Christians was due to the significance of Easter to the Christendom.
The Governor had placed a ban on religious gatherings across the state in a bid to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
While emphasizing that the ban placed on religious and social gatherings was still in force, Akeredolu emphasized that only Easter Sunday will be allowed for Christians in order for them to converge in churches on Sunday to worship.
He also stressed that there will be no Easter Retreat (Good Friday Programmes) or the Jumat service gatherings on Friday or ‘Gallilee’ on Monday, as he maintained that the ban on all social, political and religious gatherings continued afterward, until further notice.
Earlier, the Chairman, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Rev. Ayo Oladapo had disclosed that the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had “graciously permitted Easter Sunday worship service.”
Oladapo further revealed that the approval by the Governor was given after agreeing that social distancing will be maintained during the service to limit the crowd.
“20 people will be in a small Church building, 50 in a medium-size, while big and cathedrals must maintain 3 congregants on a pew.
“It was agreed that services will hold between 7a.m. and 12noon. It was agreed that ONLY Easter Sunday service (12th April 2020) will be observed as agreed between the Governor and the Christian leaders,” Rev Oladapo said.
However, the statement by the Ondo state government further said, “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 a special relief to enable Christians celebrate Easter Sunday, being 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.
“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.”