By Ikenna Osuoha
A social activist, Mr Ebubeagu Ekenulo, on Thursday expressed fears of increase in coronavirus (COVID-19), cases in Imo State.
Ekenulo, who expressed these fears in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, said this was because of the attitude of residents, who continued to flout the executive order prohibiting burials and funeral ceremonies in the state.
NAN reports that Gov. Hope Uzodimma had in May, using Executive Order No.001, announced the ban of all forms of burials and funeral ceremonies, in order to curb spread of COVID-19.
The activist said such unpatriotic behaviour was capable of undermining the efforts of both state and federal governments in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.
Ekenulo also decried what he described as the reckless manner people conducted their daily affairs in Imo’, even in the face of the deadly pandemic that had continued to ravage the world.
He called on Uzodinma and the police command in the state, to enforce the order and bring perpetrators to book.
“I want to inform the governor that the executive order prohibiting burials in the state, in view of the upsurge in COVID-19 cases, are not being enforced by the relevant agencies.
“One also wonders why the special assistant on security, and his counterpart on public safety to the governor, are not out to enforce the order.
“The fact that 13 members of Imo Assembly tested positive to COVID-19, shows that there is great danger beyond what the eye might see,” he said.
Ekenulo therefore, stressed the need for stringent law enforcement and taking responsibility by all stakeholders in containing the pandemic.
According to him, no person is above the law, so those who are in contravention of the government’s order should be arrested and prosecuted, to serve as deterrent to other will be defaulters.
The activist advised clerics and community leaders to support government’s efforts in containing the spread of the virus in their areas to prevent community infection.
He said: “If the clergy or Church is not complying with the prohibition, then we are in for a moral war in largest scale.” (NAN)
