Churches in Kogi hold cross over service, ignore NCDC protocols on Covid-19

Despite the directive of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to avert further spread of the deadly coronavirus, major churches visited in Kogi State defiled the covid-19 protocol during their cross over night to the new year.

Our Kogi State Correspondent gathered that, most of the churches visited failed to wear face mask, make provisions for hand sanitizers or observe social distancing.

Some of the churches visited in Ajaokuta Local Government, Kogi State, includes, The Apostolic Church Nigeria, TAC, FFN, Assembly, United Evangelical Church, UEC, FFN, Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, FFN, St Mary Catholic Church amongst others.

The situation is also the same in some of the churches visited within Lokoja metropolis and its environs..

In a chat with some of the clergies in charge of the churches, they told our Correspondent in Kogi State that, although they believe that corona virus is real and is indeed crippling the worlds economy, they are optimistic that God will protect their members from contacting the deadly virus.

They maintained that, before the cross over night, they had been observing the covid-19 protocols but could not control the influx of worshipers into the churches since they are crossing over to the new year.

According to them, their is need for ministers of God irrespective of their denominations to join hands together and pray for God to salvage the world from the hands of the wicked one's who brought the pandemic to destroy the world.

For Pastor Paul Olukunle of the Apostolic Church Nigeria, (TACN), FFN, Assemby, Ajaokuta, who doubles as the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), chairman in Ajaokuta Local Government, he averred that the corona virus pandemic was a test that God can destroy the world within a tinkle of an eye.

He admonished Nigerians to believe in God and do according to his will, expressing hope that the year 2021 will be full of testimonies and fruitfulness.

"We were called to close church in CAN executive. It is a year that many people faith was locked down. It is a year that what no one expected happened. But in the year 2021, we shall not be lock down.

"As it concern corona virus, our Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has made it clear that it is a glorified malaria. And we are in support of this. No doubt covid-19 exist, but even people that we know that are maintaining social distancing, using nose mask are still catching it.

"But in this end of the world, we thank God it has not gotten to us. We have not experience it here in Kogi State because God has been our sanitizer. He has continued to cover us with the blood of Jesus and we believe it and is not happening. And it will not happen to us, that is our faith and our believe.

"We have seen people that are up there that have catch it. Many Governors, Commissioners, politicians have contracted the virus. Are they not using nose mask? Are they not observing social distancing? Why are they catching it? It is the people that God protect that is free from evil".

The Clergy, however appealed to Nigerians to emulate Christ in all their doing.

Olukunle, further described corruption as the greatest pandemic troubling Nigeria as a nation, stressing that, corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigeria society.

"The youths are there no employment for them. One person will hijack more than 1000 peoples job. Budget will be read year in year out, but nothing to show for it. Every sector is corrupt. So am appealing to Nigerians, because there is need for us to work on our self and see that we fight this battle. We see greediness in the eyes of many Nigerians. We need to regenerate our selves and emulate Christ. Our lord Jesus Christ is not greedy" he stated.

Adding their voices, Pastor Omaiye Lawrence of Assembly of God Church, FFN, Ajaokuta, Rev Thomas Ajolo, of United Evangelical Church, FFN, Ajaokuta, and Pastor Abraham Jimoh of Christ Apostolic Church FFN, Ajaokuta, all described the outgone year to be unique as they expressed optimism for a better 2021.

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