The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) faulted the distribution of relief materials and payments of stipends to Nigerians over the coronavirus lockdown, saying government had not been transparent.
The organisation also said the pandemic would not deter Christians in the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, expressed these views in his Easter Message titled, ‘We shall have victory at last, signed by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Adebayo Oladeji.
He said, “We further urge the government to be transparent and inclusive of all regions and religious persuasions in the identification of the poor to which pandemic relief materials and payments are being made available.
“We know the government cannot touch every poor in the society for lack of enough resources, but equal selection of the poor per state with balance in religious persuasions would have done better justice.
“We shall continue to pray for the government for right and inclusive decisions always for our general good.”
According to him, Christians have been forced to celebrate Easter for the first time in over 100 hundred years in a lockdown due to Covid-19.
Ayokunle said, “Beloved and fellow Nigerians, we shall see the end of all evils challenging us in the name of Jesus including COVID-19.
“Let all local churches remember to make relief packages available to the poor among them at this time. This is the time we would know the true church of Christ and those that are just commercial outfits.”
The CAN boss said the coronavirus disruptions of human activities should not deter Christans from their joy and victory over all evils “which Christ’s unique resurrection from the dead has brought to us.”
Also, the Presiding Bishop, Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, Bishop Wale Oke, has admonished Nigerians and members of the international community to fear God more than the dreaded COVID-19.
He spoke in a statement on Easter titled, ‘Coronavirus: Fear God more,’ on Tuesday.
The statement read in part, “In the world today, nothing appears to be cheery. The news being churned out on a daily basis, especially during this period of the pandemic, is not ear-appeasing at all. But the good thing is, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, has conquered all fears. He died and rose for you and I.
“I urge the people not to turn coronavirus into another demi-god to be worshipped through unnecessary fears.
“Rather, it is God that needs to be feared the most. There is no disease or power above God. So, just like most people have obeyed and are still obeying the stay-at-home order while still observing other rules related to coronavirus’ prevention, we should obey God.”
![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")
