Kunle Adelabu
Save for the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Patriarch Bolaji Johnson at Ita – Elewa in Ikorodu that conducted less than 20 minutes online special Easter service to reach its Cathedral members, most cathedrals and other big churches were under lock and key.
The lockdown measures put in place by the government to prevent the spread of the deadly CONVID – 19 has prevented religious gatherings for about three weeks and as a result, many Christians were unable to observe Easter celebrations which is a major and significant annual festival in the global Christian calendar.
Our reporter went round three councils out of the six Local Government and Local Councils Development Areas in Ikorodu to see how the celebration was being observed.
Churches visited included the United African Methodist Church (Eleja), Igbogbo, Joy Cometh International Church along Igbogbo/Ipakodo road, the headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) located on Pashokun Street in Ikorodu, the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Patriarch Bolaji Johnson at Ita-Elewa in Ikorodu, and the African Church Bethel Cathedral, Aga in Ikorodu.
While all these big congregation churches were under lock and key, the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Patriarch Bolaji Johnson, at Ita-Elewa in Ikorodu, though under lock and key, held a brief Easter Sunday service.
The special service, which the Presbyter of the Church, Very Revd. Sunday Oluwole Adegbola, informed our reporter that the special service was conducted in order to reach members of the Church online. It was presided over by the Rt. Revd. Samson Olu Osundina, the Methodist Bishop of Diocese of Ikorodu, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Patriarch Bolaji Johnson Cathedral, Ikorodu.
About ten congregants attended the service and seated miles apart from one other in adherence with the social distancing directive of the government.
Our reporter, who arrived the cathedral at 11. 38am, was allowed to witness the service by the Cathedral’s Presbyter.
Meanwhile, the situation at the United African Methodist Church (Eleja) in Igbogbo was still the same with what it was when the church was locked three weeks ago when the government issued directive against public gatherings to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.
When THE IMPACT got to the Joy Cometh International Church around 10. 40am, the main gate leading into the Church premises was under lock and key.
The monitoring team of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) that was going round to monitor compliance by churches to government order was seen at the frontage of the church taking pictures of the locked gate.
It was the same scenario at the Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Pashokun Street in Ikorodu.
After knocking the main gate of the Church for several minutes, the gateman showed up and informed our reporter that there was nobody in the Church.
He said that service was not conducted in the Church.
At the African Church Bethel Cathedral, Aga in Ikorodu, the gate was also locked and upon entering the church premises, our reporter sighted about four officers of the LSNSC on ground.
When contacted, the Cathedral senior steward, Mr Abisoye, stated that only his family and few other Church workers had gathered earlier in the Church hall to observe the special Easter celebration.
Our reporter also reported that most major roads in Ikorodu were also deserted as only few residents and vehicles were seen around.
Strategic points on major roads at Ipakodo/Ibeshe roundabout, opposite Mobil/F1 at Ipakodo, Ojogbe in Ikorodu and other areas were heavily manned by security personnel who frisk vehicles plying the road.
All the bars, fun spots and relaxation centres that usually accommodate families and fun seekers during notable celebrations such as Easter, were also closed.
Speaking with THE IMPACT after the brief service, Bishop Osundina deplored the effect of the lockdown on Churches and other religious places.
“The absence of God is a great disaster. Whoever advised the government to copy what is happening around the world should know that Africans are notoriously religious. If Christians and Muslims are allowed to pray to their God, things will be better.
“The social distancing and other measures are good, but I want to say that the lockdown issue has promoted robbery. Many families have suffered in this so called quietness. Right opposite my Church, incidences have been recorded because they know people are indoor.
“God has to be given its rightful place or else, we are in trouble. If you remove God from your life, you are in trouble and so am I if I remove Him from my life. It is grace that has given us the opportunity to see today”, he stated.
Otunba Ayodele Eleso, KJW, a Knight of John Wesley, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu Kingdom and former Commissioner for Information, Lagos State in his Easter message to HE IMPACT, stated:
“It is a period of sober reflection for the people of Christian faith to understand that truly, Jesus Christ died for us on the cross, for the sins he never committed” Otunba Eleso stated.
Speaking on the significance of Easter celebration in the midst of the ravaging disease, Pastor Bayo Oteju stated that:
“Easter is the demonstration of God’s Love for man in the Person of JESUS as He paid the Price for our victory over the devil, law and sin, which was seen in His Temptation, Suffering, Death and His Resurrection.
“According to the Scripture in Revelation 1:4, Jesus is, He was and He is to come that means before COVID-19, Jesis was and after the virus, He will still be” he stated.
“Jesus was nailed on the Cross strapped with sin on His body, He went to the Cross with sin, died with sin (Romans.8:3: 6:22a, 4:25). JESUS’ on the cross was our deliverance from the consequences of not been able to keep the law (Galatians.3:13).
“JESUS resurrection is for our justification before the Father (Romans.4:25). The only reason life would have had an upper hand against us is if CHRIST JESUS was NOT raised from the dead (1Cor.15:17), but the Good News is; He is Risen (1Cor.15:20).
“All that we as believers need do now is to Believe and keep Believing in JESUS, because He is the One that overcame the world, as we exercise faith toward JESUS, we partake and share in the victory JESUS has over the world (1John.5:4, John.16:33, AMP).
“The world need to look to JESUS as there can be no solution without JESUS (Romans.10:13)” Pastor Oteju stated.
Mr Monday Ohi Obadan, a Christian writer and Community Developer in his Easter message to our news medium stated:
“The Good News is that Jesus Christ accepted to be laid as lamb for the atonement. It is so significant and symbolic because it reassured mankind of eternal life from the guilt and debt that the rebellious Lucifer plunged mankind. Symbolic because God cannot be killed nor die. He lives forever (Hebrew 13:8). The essence is selfless love, hope, faith (1 Corinthians 13:13)” Mr Obadan stated.
Mr Seun Eleso, the President of I – Heroes and member of the Methodist Church, Ikorodu, who watched the brief service of the Church online, in an interview with THE IMPACT, said that:
“I thank God for this season and l prayed that this COVID-19 shall come to pass and people will come out stronger and more resolute”.
