Archbishop Ibezim
By Sunny A. David
The Archbishop, Province of the Niger, Anglican Communion, and Bishop of Awka diocese, Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim on Sunday raised the alarm that following the abuse of safety rules across markets and most rural communities in Nigeria, the war against the dreaded Coronavirus is yet to be over.
He appealed to government at all levels to partner with the religious bodies the churches and mosques to embark on an aggressive sensitization campaign to mobilize the people to adhere to the safety precautionary measures set by NCDC.
Archbishop Ibezim spoke to newsmen shortly after Sunday service at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Awka.
The Archbishop decried that in all the rural markets he had observed they were not adhering to social distancing and other precautionary rules stipulated to mitigate further spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
He informed further that, it was only God that saved mankind from the ravaging grips of the Coronavirus pandemic because Nations with advanced hi-tech medical equipment and economy were reduced to nothing, wondering what the pandemic would have done to nations without strong health system and economy.
The Archbishop wondered why churches were shut down during Easter when there was no Coronavirus and only to be opened now that there were cases of Coronavirus everywhere.
Archbishop Ibezim advised Government at all levels not to neglect the roles religious leaders play in mobilizing citizens because the religious body are closer to the people, thus the need to partner the religious bodies for effective communication with their congregation at all levels.
He insisted that the government is being misled to neglect the churches and mosques in fighting COVID-19, stating that the church remains a veritable tool for educating the masses on the safety measures of COVID-19 as they know the people better.
The Archbishop noted that much of the measures taken in by the masses were mostly from their religious leaders who have taken time to educate their members, as many of the information available in the media were not at the disposal of the rural people and most market men and women.
The Bishop of Awka encouraged government at all levels to partner the church and see it as integral part of the war against COVID-19, if the pandemic would be survived better, pointing out that seeing the church as the last resort by government maybe dangerous.
Archbishop Ibezim said the good policies of the government needed an input of the religious leaders for better implimentation: even as he warned that people should not wait for government to virus.
