President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors have reached a five-point agreement on containing the coronavirus disease while easing the lockdown nationwide, sources say.
It was learnt that the deal addressed the apprehension of some governors on the observance of Sallah prayers and reopening of worship centres.
A major thrust of the agreement is that gatherings in mosques or churches and the observance of Eid-el-Fitr prayers will not exceed 50 people at a time.
Muslims are also not expected to go to any praying ground but they can use a neighbourhood mosque with only 50 worshippers.
It was gathered that the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, also had talks with the President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Supo Ayokunle, on the understanding reached with the President.
The NGF chairman was also said to have had discussions with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
According to The Nation, Fayemi said the governors held a National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday and that their position on public gathering had not changed, adding that no governor would go against the agenda.
According to findings, the governors proposed a five-point agenda concerning the management of the eased lockdown, which the President endorsed.
The agreement is applicable to all Nigerians, including Muslims and Christians.
Findings revealed that at the NEC session on Thursday, the governors were advised to stick to the agreement reached with the President.
What are the five points for worship centres to reopen
A North-West governor said: “We do not know where all the noise is coming from as if governors are heady and out to frustrate the management of COVID-19.
“In easing the lockdown, we presented a five-point agenda to the President, namely restriction on inter-state movements; internal relaxation of stay-at-home order within a time frame; compulsory wearing of masks; and public gathering, be it social, political or religious, not exceeding 50.
“The fifth clause in the agreement is that we must increase testing so that we can be more accurate.”
Another governor said: “The NGF chairman has had robust discussions with the President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Supo Ayokunle, on the pact with the President.
“We therefore got the buy in of NSCIA and CAN on how we want to go about the easing of the lockdown.
“We were briefed at our meeting on how the NGF leadership consulted the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and other stakeholders on our agenda to ease the lockdown, especially as it concerns worship centres.
“We have got to a stage where we need to lay the cards on the table to show that governors have been mutually consultative.
“What is causing the apprehension nationwide is the fear that governors may not be able to manage the situation if they unlock worship centres or during Eid-el Fitr celebration.
“So far, we have spoken to ourselves and reached a consensus that we will abide by the agreement.
“We even consented to a clause that nobody should come to the Eid praying ground, central mosque. Instead, Muslims are expected to use neighbourhood mosques if they cannot stay at home.”
On the alleged recalcitrant posture of some governors, the source added: “I think some of them are being pushed by either some Ulamas or some politicians for electoral purpose.
“We are however hopeful that no one will violate the five-point agenda.”
When contacted, the Chairman of NGF, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said: “Our position on the five-point agenda we gave to the President has not changed.
“I think no governor will go against the agenda.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
