Obaseki meets religious, traditional leaders, seeks collective action to ward off coronavirus

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, has called for collaboration of all residents and stakeholders in the state, as the state government intensifies efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Obaseki said this when he met separately with religious and traditional leaders at the government house, in Benin City, the state capital, on Friday.

Key issues discussed at the meetings include the state government’s steps to ward off the coronavirus pandemic; plans by government to cope with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and other sundry matters.

Members of the state traditional council were led to the government house by Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, oba of Benin.

Present at the meeting with religious leaders were Oriname Oyenude, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo chapter; Felix Omobude, president, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN); Lucky Osagbokhoe, ECWA/TEKAN chairman;  Fatai Enabulele,  chief imam of the Benin Central Mosque, among others.

The governor urged the leaders to share best practices on how to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus with their community, noting that the state government was well prepared to ward off the virus.

“I just arrived from Abuja for the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, which was mainly devoted to national response to the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently ravaging the world,” he said.

“I know that as groups, associations and religious bodies, it is an issue you are all concerned about. I know you had been praying and developed your own responses as we agreed; it is quite helpful that in a situation like this we all have a common front.

“Though we all trying our individual best with responses but we can have a higher success in dealing with the challenge if we work together, as this is a public health issue. It has been reported that we have never had such kind of a challenge in this century and because of globalization, it has now created even greater economic problems.

“It’s how we as a state responds to this issue that matters. What are immediate steps to contain the spread of the virus by our leaders? As a government, we have a lot of respect and adoration for our leaders. I don’t think it is appropriate to sit in the council or with my cabinet, take decisions and ditch it out to you; we felt that the best way to buy in our citizens is to call you to seek your own views on this issue that has affected our economy.”