By NWOGHA NDUBUISI ANDY, Abakaliki
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi State Chapter under the leadership of Reverend Fr. Abraham Chukwuma Nwali on Wednesday condemned the recent increase in prices of foodstuff in the market and called on traders to reduce the increase in price to enable most families make purchases while the stay-at-home order lasts.
Addressing newsmen at Abakaliki, the Catholic priest and Senior Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, noted that the religious body in showing their preparedness have observed seven days prayer and fasting as part of the spiritual support to seek the face of God at the critical period.
He frowned on the recent increase on prices of food stuff in most markets at the Urban, as traders took advantage of the ugly situation to double their prices in the market, stressing that such attitude does not represent love for each other and appealed to them to return the cost of food while they assist the vulnerable among them.
The Priest pointed out that the umbrella body has been of assistance with the state government in carrying out sensitization to the people by preaching regular hand washing, the covering of nose, sanitizing of hands, creating of distance and staying at home as ways to curb the deadly disease Corona virus spread.
While responding to the reason why some churches still operate irrespective of Government directive on total shutdown,he hinted that Church as a body of Christ doesn’t need to be in a building for Christ to be worshiped, pointing out that the period has called for all Christian to worship God wherever they are as they must not assemble in one room for the Maker to be worship.
According to him, “Church is not an institution but body of Christ; the head is Christ and we, the body which is the church, therefore, we don’t need to stay inside a building before we worship God.That’s why He is an Omniscient and Omnipresent, from wherever we are, we talk to God,He hears us. If Christ is everywhere it means He hear us no matter where we are. So, we must not be in a particular building before we worship God.
“Meanwhile, the period has called for us to worship God not only in church but everywhere we are. It is certain that churches that obey Christ must obey all authority. the holy Papal of entire Universal Church told us to disintergregate until the pandemic disease is over we will go back to the worshipping ground,” he further stated.
The Senior Special Assistant maintained that no palliative measuore have been given by the Federal Government, which according to him, the state Governor has promised not to relent in making the state safe from the deadly disease, assuring that once anything is given that he would ensure that provisions are made available to the people.
He, however, revealed that over five persons who were earlier quarantined have been tested in the CoronaVirus room in the state by World Health Organization (WHO) officials and all tested negative while they confirmed that Ebonyi State Virology Center is fit for the Corona virus test.
Lending his voice, the Executive Chairman, Abakaliki Local Government Area, Hon. Nwangele, commended the state government proactive measures, stating that his office has employed the house-to-house campaign as a way to properly educate the people on need for self hygiene, urging Abakaliki residents to join the fight against the disease spread.
