CONVID-19: Archbishop Ibezim tasks government not to neglect church leaders in sharing stimulus

— holds Palm Sunday on radio
—. families to hook on

Archbishop, Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Anglican Communion, His Grace Most Reverend Alexander .C Ibezim yesterday commended the federal and Anambra state governments on their efforts so far in containing the covid-19 pandemic.

Most Rev Alexander Ibezim made the commendation in Awka shortly after a meeting with his Archdeacons at the Emmaus House Awka, asked the Government not to neglect church leaders in reaching to it’s poor members.

The frontline cleric noted that the lockdown directed by government and different committees set up to enlighten the masses on dangers of the pandemic will help to stop the spread of the virus in the country.

Archbishop Ibezim while appreciating the various stimulus strategies by government in the state especially plans to distribute relief materials to the elderly and poor people, expressed sadness over the exclusion of religious leaders in the distribution process.He noted that the poor people were members of the church and can easily be reached out to effectively by the church leaders who know them very well.

The Archbishop further stated that inclusion of the Church leaders will guarantee effective distribution of the relief materials, even as he called on ndi Anambra to obey Government directives on the lockdown,ensure social distancing and also maintain best hygiene practices.

Archbishop Ibezim further commended journalists for their tireless efforts in disseminating information despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus invasion.

The Anglican Prelate expressed the hope that as the church continues to pray God will hear the cry of His people and save our land from the ravaging covid-19 pandemic.

His words: “first of all I want to commend the federal government and the state government led by Governor Willie Obiano on their effort so far especially encouraging people to keep social distancing and also on making it plain that schools , markets and institutions be closed down. This will help in other to curb this disease.

“On the other hand also, I also thank the government on having a team that goes around to educate people on what to do,you know even though they cannot educate everybody, it’s commendable and the Church leaders among others are taking a clue too.

And I commend the journalists like you who are using the social media for spreading information concerning what we’re passing through.

“But one area which I’m highly concerned as a church leader is what I just read in the media. It said the government wants to distribute rice to the communities, I said well that is commendable, but I hope they’re not sidelining church leaders ,because in the church they have a lot of poor people, and we know them, you know let it be that if those things are been distributed, Church leaders would be involved because, I have thousands of poor people, even I have already started giving something to them.

Archbishop Ibezim concluded: “OK so if government is going to do something, let them not just put us by the side, I’m interested okay so that my people will not die of hunger in a time like this”.

Archbishop Ibezim holds private Palm Sunday live streaming on Radio

Meanwhile, the Archbishop Ibezim will tomorrow Sunday 5th April,2020 observe a private Palm Sunday Service without a congregation to be broadcast by ABS radio and television , and Ogene fm live streaming by 7:30 am to 8:30 am. Hook on to the Radio and Facebook. Also the Awka diocesan Facebook page, as well as Odogwublog Facebook page among others would be streaming live for the congregation to join and worship with His Grace.

Few other Print and Electronic media Journalists representing the media organizations will cover this Private Palm Sunday without a congregation to be held at the Our Savior Anglican Church, Emmaus House Awka.

The Archbishop hopes the clergy and others never relent in giving hope to the congregation and as well remember the congregation specially at a time like this.