Ondo govt conditionally approves CAN’s request for Easter Sunday worship

The Ondo State Government Wednesday approved the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN)’s request to hold Easter Sunday worship in churches across the state “based on precautionary measures and guidelines earlier put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus”.

The state Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, said in a statement in Akure that the government had allowed a “special relief” for Christian faithful to mark the occasion.

He said: “The government acknowledges concerns expressed in many quarters in respect of the above subject matter.

“This is especially in relation to the last government statement on the sustenance of the anti-COVID- 19 measures put in place vis- a -viz the public statement issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria.

“The position of CAN and the government statement should be seen as mutually inclusive.

“CAN’s statement is explicit enough that the 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’ is advisedly applied to provide the caveat for this special concession in line with crowd control regulations.

“The state government has already communicated to the Ondo State Police Command this concession granted CAN.

“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.

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“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.”

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