The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says he will
impose a fresh lockdown in the state in January to prevent a second
wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Wike who was addressing a congregation on Sunday in
Ikwerre, said the decision was a result of the non-challant
attitude of some residents to the COVID-19 protocols.
The governor also threatened to shut down all churches in the
state if worshippers refuse to wear face masks and comply with
other COVID-19 protocols.
See his full statement below.
GOV WIKE TO IMPOSE STRINGENT MEASURES TO CURB SPREAD OF
COVID-19
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, says he will
re-impose lockdown beginning from January as the number of
coronavirus cases surge in the State.
He gave a hint of the imminent second phase of lockdown amid
rising cases of COVID-19 during the thanksgiving church service in
celebration of the 90th birthday of Mrs. Priscilla Nwanediye Mark,
at the St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local
Government on Sunday.
Governor Wike, lamented as worrisome the refusal of most
churches and markets in the State to enforce compulsory wearing of
face mask in adherence to COVID-19 protocol.
He said the State government had initially relaxed the
restriction on the number of persons who worship in churches, but
with second wave of COVID-19, he will by this week announce new
stringent measures to check the spread of COVID-19 cases in the
State, “When you go to some churches, they don’t wear mask. Go to
market, they don’t wear mask.
They believe COVID is not real. It’s not real because it has not
happened to you; nobody had died whom you know. When somebody has
died and the person was close to you, you will know that COVID is
real.
“So, it is real and I want to appeal to all of you that we have
to be more strict now because the second wave is more dangerous
than the first wave. It’s very, very dangerous. I know how many
people we have lost since the second wave started.”
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Governor Wike implored the Bishop of Diocese of Ikwerre to
prevail on members of all the churches under his jurisdiction to
always wear their face mask.
“If you don’t comply, I have no choice, but to shut down the
churches; Pentecostal, Catholic, Anglican.
I have no choice, because when you have it, who spends the
money? It is the state that treats. So, we need to use the money
for some other things, but not for this. Let us discipline
ourselves and know that COVID is real. Let nobody tell you that
there is nothing like COVID. It’s real.”
The governor urged Peoples Democratic Party leaders in Ikwerre
Local government area to use Mrs Mark’s 90th birthday to work in
unison for the development to the area.
He also used the occasion to extol the chairman of Ikwerre local
government, Samuel Nwanosike for his commitment to the development
of the area.
Governor Wike, however, urged Nwanosike to respect party leaders
and ensure that all stakeholders work in unison to move the State
forward.
The governor who was accompanied by the Governor of Sokoto
State, Aminu Tambuwal, announced a donation of N50 million to the
church.
Delivering a sermon titled “Thanking God for His Mercy” the
Bishop, Diocese of Ikwerre, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion,
Right Reverend Blessing Enyindah, stressed the need for people to
always acknowledge God’s mercies in their lives.
Bishop Enyindah who observed that this is an era were people
lived below the lifespan of 50 years, said it was the mercy of God
that made Mrs. Priscilla Mark attain 90 years.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/12/28/covid-19-wike-to-impose-fresh-lockdown-on-rivers/