Religion
Christian Group Tasks Muslims on COVID-19 Donations
Christian Group, the Christians Rights Agenda (CRA), has challenged religious groups in the country to rise to the occasion and emulate the Church at this critical period of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The group specifically called on such religious groups as the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Izala, etc, to come out at this point to show the love that all religions of the world preach.
“We challenge them to draw a line between humanity and politics,” CRA said in a statement by its interim Director of Publicity, Mr. Tom Chiahemen on Thursday.
The group also said it had viewed with concern developments surrounding the management of COVID-19 and matters arising therefrom, pointing out that after weeks of intense agitation, President Mohammadu Buhari, made a national broadcast that had continued to attract mixed feelings among the Nigerian populace.
“It is curious that several days after the long-awaited national broadcast, majority of Nigerians are still to come to terms with most of the policy statements that did not seem to be well thought out. For instance, up till this moment, neither the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs nor the entire COVID-19 management committee has shown a clear direction on who constitutes the ‘poor and vulnerable’ in our society,” the group lamented.
It also observed that Mr. President’s directive on school feeding program was rather confusing, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the current closure of all schools across the country.
“CRA wonders which school feeding program Mr. President was referring to, or if that was an important issue in the face of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.
The group however commended all those who have made contributions to help in managing the victims of the covid19 pandemic. It appreciated, in particular, “all the churches and other Christian bodies who rose to the occasion donating cash and equipment.”
It appealed to President Buhari and his team should go back to the drawing board come up with more strategies for handling the pandemic with a view to alleviating the hardships being faced by Nigerians, particularly the citizens living the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Lagos and Ogun states, as a result of the 14-day lock-down.
According to CRA, “as much as human isolation appears to be the best way yet to curtail the spread of the virus, lack of a well-defined policy to ameliorate the attendant challenge of isolation can lead to greater problems. This is because a lot of Nigerians live by daily earnings.”
“In this regard, government should, as a matter of urgency, make test kits available to every Nigerian because there is no other way of knowing those infected. Government’s decision to lockdown Abuja, Lagos and Ogun state, as worse hit, is too simplistic if test kits are only available to politicians and celebrities,” it added.
The group also called on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, invoke the doctrine of necessity and resume sitting, saying, “he parliaments of other nations didn’t close shop.”
“While CRA is keenly watching developments, all Nigerians are enjoined to stay safe and remain law- abiding as all our senior pastors nationwide have been directed to commence a 21- day fasting and prayer to seek the face of God at this critical period in world history,” it said.
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that there is no rancour over the ascension to the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, as being widely speculated.
Makinde stated this while hosting his deputy, Bayo Lawal, and Muslim faithful within the government who paid him an Eid-el Firtri homage at visited his Ikolaba residence on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nomination of the next Olubadan has been enmeshed in controversy since the death of Oba Lekan Balogun on March 15.
NAN also reports that a meeting of the Obas-in-council, to be presided over by Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, had been fixed for Thursday, where the nomination of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, is expected to be ratified.
The meeting was scheduled few hours after a peace meeting initiated by some Ibadan elders, with Ladoja promising to withdraw the case instituted in court against the elevation of his fellow high chiefs to obaship status.
A new twist to the obaship controversy, however, emerged on Tuesday when the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, declared that the Olubadan-designate, Olakulehin, was not medically fit to ascend the throne.
The governor, however, warned those whose stock-in-trade was to look at things that will divide the state and its people to look for something else to do.
Rather, he said that they should focus on things that would enhance unity in the state.
Although Makinde said that the Ibadan Obas-in-Council had yet to meet on the nomination of the next Olubadan, he, however, added: “When they eventually make their nomination, they will come to me and I will either say ‘Yes’ or ‘No”.
He also seized the opportunity to call on the people of the state to come out en masse to vote during the local government election, slated for April 27.
The governor assured the residents of the state that the outcome of the council election would reflect their wishes.
He equally urged Muslims to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan in their respective daily activities.
Earlier, the deputy governor, who led the state government’s delegation to the Eid praying ground at Agodi, implored all Muslim faithful to sustain the peaceful and harmonious co-existence being enjoyed in the state.
In his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Sheikh Abubakar Agbotomokekere, enjoined all Muslims to sustain abstinence from all vices, as they did during the Ramadan period.
Agbotomokekere called on the residents of the state to support government with prayers for the growth and development of the state and the country as a whole. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Mr Emeka Obegolu, has urged Nigerians to build a united nation, where business community can thrive and contribute to national development.
Obegolu said this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja to celebrate 2024 Easter festivities.
He called on the government and relevant stakeholders to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Reports that Easter, also known as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a significant Christian festival.
It is celebrated to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion on Good Friday.
This festival represents the triumph of life over death and encompasses the crucifixion, burial, and subsequent resurrection of Christ.
Obegolu urged entrepreneurs and business owners to seize the opportunities presented by Easter to recommit themselves to excellence and innovation in their respective fields.
He reiterated the importance of supportive policies, infrastructure development and access to finance for sustainable business growth.
Obegolu also stressed the significance of fostering collaboration and partnerships among businesses, encouraging networking, knowledge-sharing and joint initiatives.
“By doing so, a solid foundation can be established for economic progress and job creation, ultimately contributing to national development.
“On behalf of the Executive Council and members of ACCI, I extend warm wishes for a joyful and blessed Easter celebration to all Nigerians.
“And l encourage everyone to embrace the true spirit of Easter, characterised by love, forgiveness and hope, as we work together towards building a prosperous and united nation. (NAN)
Pope Francis called on the faithful to rejoice and hope in spite of the personal and global political crises at the celebration of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
These crises are “boulders of death,” the head of the Catholic Church said in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Specifically, he mentioned the ruthlessness of hatred and the cruelty of war, which break the longing for world peace, but also selfishness and indifference.
The 87-year-old said Easter would roll away those boulders.
Around 6,000 people attended the celebration to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in St. Peter’s Basilica.
According to Francis, Easter should encourage people and give them hope: “This is the power of God: the victory of life over death, the triumph of light over darkness, the rebirth of hope in the midst of the ruins of failure.
”After Holy Week, the Easter Vigil is a cause for joy, he said.
“Sister, brother, may your heart burst into joy on this holy night!” the pontiff said in his homily.
On the night before Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his death on the cross.
At the beginning of the celebration, the Easter candle was carried through St. Peter’s Basilica in a procession in complete darkness – the darkness is intended to symbolise life without faith.
The candles of the priests and faithful were then lit from the Easter candle to the cry of “Lumen Christi,” Latin for the “Light of Christ.”
During the celebration, Francis baptized eight adults: four Italians, two South Koreans, a Japanese man and a woman from Albania.
The pontiff performed the ceremony sitting down.
Francis read his sermon himself, but his voice was hoarse.
On Good Friday, he had surprisingly decided not to take part in the Stations of the Cross service in order to preserve his health.
On Sunday, he plans to preside over the Easter Mass and give the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, Latin for to the city and the world. (dpa/NAN)
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