Dr Olusegun Mimiko, immediate past governor of Ondo State, has asked Christians across the country to intensify prayers against the deadly Coronavirus as they celebrate Easter – the season of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Mimiko in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, John Paul Akinduro, said Christians and indeed every Nigerian “must seek the face of the Risen Christ who alone can bring permanent healing to our land at this critical time.”
The former governor said “Our hope is now totally in God. He has done it before and we are sure He can do it again. When Covid-19’s cousin, Ebola, came calling, He stopped the devil at our gate. He raised a guardian angel, Dr Ameyo Adadevoh, to dodouble-checkHe inspired our leaders and people to do what they had to do”
Mimiko who, at different times during this pandemic, had offered many groundbreaking solutions including local production of manual ventilators, establishment of oxygen plants, strict compliance with physical/social distancing instructions and nationwide lockdown backed by transparent disbursement of palliatives especially to the vulnerable, however, added that “We must turn to the Risen Christ for help against COVID-19” as he equally prayed for “strength for families of the dead particularly those in the frontline, whose lives were lost trying to save others”.
He further said governments must take issue of necessary palliatives very seriously “We need palliatives to keep our people indoors, an stop the spread of this dreaded disease. But we also require a little more than mere palliative, to begin to address age-longthe socio-economic inequities in our country, Nigeria. I pray that God will inspire and empower our leaders to do this and enhance our capacity to test, trace and treat.”
While commending the spirit of giving and act of kindness shown by those who had offered help, Mimiko charged Christians to look beyond the challenges and see it as another avenue to continue to take actions that will add value to the society and people around them.
“God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Easter speaks to the ultimate love of God for us. Together, with love, may we overcome COVID-19, and come to a new realization of our shared destiny.
The Bible tells us to bear one another’s burdens, and this is another good time to reflect on this and show that we are not just hearers but doers of the words of Christ by extending our act of giving to the vulnerable members of the society and those whose daily living has been affected by coronavirus pandemic. May the Risen Christ heal our land” the former governor said.
