Gov Yari says meningitis is God’s penalty for fornication, other sins

The governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, has attributed the cause of meningitis ravaging some states in northern Nigeria as penalty for sins of fornication and other nefarious activities.

According to the governor, because people have turned their back against God and engage in such sins and many others, God has allowed type C of meningitis disease to ravage the land.

Yari expressed this view in an interview he granted in Hausa shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor called on people to return to God, expressing hope that the country will overcome the disease which has killed no less than 336 people so far.

“What we used to know as far as meningitis is concerned is the Type A virus. The World Health Organisation has carried out vaccinations against this Type A virus, not just in Zamfara, but in many other states.

“However, because people refused to stop their nefarious activities, God now decided to send Type C virus, which has no vaccination.

Read also: MENINGITIS: Senate begs health ministry for free vaccines

“People have turned away from God and he has promised that ‘if you do anyhow, you see anyhow.’ That is just the cause of this outbreak, as far as I am concerned.

“There is no way fornication will be so rampant and God will not send a disease that cannot be cured.

“The most important thing is for our people to know that their relationship with God is not smooth. All they need to do is repent and everything will be alright.”

According to reports, a total of 2,997 suspected cases of the disease have been recorded in 16 states in Nigeria, with 146 cases laboratory-confirmed as at April 3, 2017.

Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in a statement by its spokesman, Lawal Bakare on Tuesday, said 336 deaths have been recorded.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now