A popular church in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital is facing hard times following its closure by Akwa Ibom Government for perpetrating an act of lawlessness.
It is alleged that some pastors and relevant members church located adjacent Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly obstructed and brutalized the state Government and Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) Monitoring Team, while on a routine compliance/inspection visit to the church, to enforce the Akwa Ibom State government/Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)/World Health Organisation (WHO)/Christian Association (CAN) Guidelines and Protocols adopted to prevent community spreading of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom State.
A statement signed by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to State Government & Chairman of COVID-19 and Management Committee, Akwa Ibom on Sunday, June 21, said the suspected persons of the church would face the wrath of the law.
| The Prince Enobong Uwah-led Monitoring Committee for Uyo arrived at the Church about 11 a.m only to run into a stonewall of over six able-bodied men who blocked the access gate, which was also locked with a padlock, asking the monitoring team to leave.
Governor Udom Emmanuel as part of agreement’s with CAN for the reopening of Churches stipulated some guidelines to be followed by Churches to forestall the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the State. However, Christ Embassy rejected the guidelines issued by the state government for reopening of churches, describing them as impracticable and unacceptable. In a media briefing held at the church headquarters in Uyo, Pastor Emmanuel Effiong, the presiding Pastor of the International Worship Centre of Christ Embassy, said CAN’s agreement with the government on the guidelines would not be binding on members of the church. The founder of the church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome had earlier declared that the use of face masks during the worship in Churches as stipulated in the guidelines exposes worshippers to health hazards, describing social distancing, sitting arrangement of not more than 200, among others, as a conspiracy, and an attempt, to gag the church. “Our church is a global ministry and we do not believe or advocate unionism, rather we believe in the unity of faith. Today, we state without equivocation that we are not members of CAN or any other association in the country and as such hold the strong belief that we cannot and should not be bounded by whatever decision the association reaches out with the government. “While we do not question the right of anybody or churches forming association nor are we against CAN or any association setting up guidelines for their members, it is unacceptable to believe that such guidelines will be binding on non-members of their groups. “The use of face masks for the entire duration of congregational worship is an act, which has been scientifically proven to be hazardous to the health as uninterrupted use of face masks over a long period of time may cause a hypoxia-the absence of oxygen to sustain bodily functions. “Also, we are expected not to sit more than 200 worshippers during each church service, among others. This is a clear attempt to gag the church,” Oyahkilome said. |
