The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, on Wednesday, advised
State governments to consider “giving special palliatives to Imams and pastors”
in order to cushion the effect of the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19.
MURIC argued that such relief will stem the tide of
agitations for early reopening of churches and mosques for normal worship
sessions.
The advice was contained in a statement signed and forwarded by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
According to MURIC: “Like many countries of the world,
Nigeria has been under government-imposed lockdown for nearly two months. The
citizenry is restless. People are hungry. The open demand by certain religious
leaders for their places of worship to be reopened lends credence to the
pressure clerics are going through. Even the recent decision by some state
governments to reopen religious centres is not unconnected with subterranean
agitations from clerics in the states. Deserted for weeks, the house of God
longs for warmth.
“The Friday and Sunday assemblies provide regular and
veritable sources of moral, spiritual and material supply. The occasional
gatherings for marriage, naming and house-warming ceremonies come with
sumptuous gifts in cash and material. But the ban on assemblies of more than
twenty has put an effective stop on these occasions. Worse still, the cheerful
givers now go about with frowns on their faces courtesy of the general economic
downturn. The tap from which naira flows into the house of God is dry.
“The impact of the economic nosedive on Imams and pastors
cannot be overemphasized particularly for a country whose proletariat is
overworked, underpaid and overtaxed. The grim realities of the Nigerian economy
call for government’s attention particularly as they affect keepers of the house
of God.
“A country like Nigeria whose per capita income is less than
$300; a country where the average citizen relies on less than $1 per day; where
only 1% of the population has arrogated more than 85% of the common patrimony
to itself, leaving 99% overwhelming majority to fight over a paltry 15% of the
country’s wealth cannot afford to ignore its clerics. A country which is ranked
as the 26th poorest and 20th hungriest in the world even before COVID-19 should
pay attention to its clerics in a prolonged lockdown. This class not only has
access to millions of their members, they are the opinion moulders.
“MURIC therefore advises the various state governments to
speedily devise means of getting special palliatives to the clerics in the
churches and mosques. They deserve attention at this crucial moment because
they have nowhere to go. They should not be turned to beggars. They have served
the government at various times. They should not be abandoned in their hour of
need. Besides, members of their families deserve decent lives as Section 33 of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates the right to
life for every citizen while Section 34 confers the right to the dignity of the
human person.
“We have a word or two for wealthy Nigerians and those who
have the wherewithal. You should remember your Imam and pastor at these trying
moments. Your Imam or pastor was there for you when you needed prayers. He was
there for your children’s wedding and naming ceremonies. He brought succour
when you were troubled. He also buried your dead relations. To whom much is
given, much is also expected. Your pastor must not suffer. Your Imam must not
beg for food. Remember your Imam and pastor today.”
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Very funny . Do they pay tax? Where should the palliatives come from?
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