20th
May, 2020
PRESS
RELEASE:
LOCKDOWN:
GIVE CLERICS SPECIAL PALLIATIVES
A rights
advocacy group has advised state governments throughout the country to consider
giving special palliatives to Imams and pastors in order to cushion the effect
of the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
argued that such relief will stem the tide of agitations for early reopening of
churches and mosques for normal worship sessions.
The
advice was given in a public statement issued by the Director of MURIC,
Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 20th May, 2020.
The
statement continues:
“Like
many countries of the world, Nigeria has been under government-imposed lockdown
for nearly two months. The citizenry is restless. People are hungry. The open demand
by certain religious leaders for their places of worship to be reopened lends
credence to the pressure clerics are going through. Even the recent decision by
some state governments to reopen religious centres is not unconnected with
subterranean agitations from clerics in the states. Deserted for weeks, the
house of God longs for warmth.
“The
Friday and Sunday assemblies provide regular and veritable sources of moral,
spiritual and material supply. The occasional gatherings for marriage, naming
and house-warming ceremonies come with sumptuous gifts in cash and material. But
the ban on assemblies of more than twenty has put an effective stop on these
occasions. Worse still, the cheerful givers now go about with frowns on their
faces courtesy of the general economic downturn. The tap from which naira flows
into the house of God is dry.
“The
impact of the economic nosedive on Imams and pastors cannot be overemphasized particularly
for a country whose proletariat is overworked, underpaid and overtaxed. The
grim realities of the Nigerian economy call for government’s attention
particularly as they affect keepers of the house of God.
“A
country like Nigeria whose per capita income is less than $300; a country where
the average citizen relies on less than $1 per day; where only 1% of the
population has arrogated more than 85% of the common patrimony to itself,
leaving 99% overwhelming majority to fight over a paltry 15% of the country’s
wealth cannot afford to ignore its clerics. A country which is ranked as the 26th
poorest and 20th hungriest in the world even before COVID-19 should
pay attention to its clerics in a prolonged lockdown. This class not only has
access to millions of their members, they are the opinion moulders.
“MURIC
therefore advises the various state governments to speedily devise means of
getting special palliatives to the clerics in the churches and mosques. They
deserve attention at this crucial moment because they have nowhere to go. They
should not be turned to beggars. They have served the government at various
times. They should not be abandoned in their hour of need. Besides, members of their
families deserve decent lives as Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria stipulates the right to life for every citizen while
Section 34 confers the right to the dignity of the human person.
“We have
a word or two for wealthy Nigerians and those who have the wherewithal. You
should remember your Imam and pastor at these trying moments. Your Imam or
pastor was there for you when you needed prayers. He was there for your
children’s wedding and naming ceremonies. He brought succour when you were
troubled. He also buried your dead relations. To whom much is given, much is
also expected. Your pastor must not suffer. Your Imam must not beg for food. Remember
your Imam and pastor today.”
Professor
Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC)
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