Encomium
There is mixed feelings among fans of Prophet Temmitope Balogun Joshua over the visit of Governor Fashola-led Lagos State Government banning Ebola Virus victims from visiting Synagogue Church of All Nations for healing.
The Lagos state government has, as a preventive measure, visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Joshua on Sunday, August 3, 2014, to urge him not to attempt ‘healing’ Ebola victims, if brought to his church.
As the deadly Ebola epidemic continues to wreak havoc on West African countries, the Lagos state government, on Sunday stepped up its surveillance to ensure infected nationals of affected countries don’t sneak into Nigeria.
Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Federal Government visited the General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Joshua seeking his cooperation in ensuring Ebola victims are not brought to his church for healing.
The SCOAN, a popular international church reputed for its claim of divine healing is a prime destination for sick people all over the world including West African countries currently battling the Ebola epidemic.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who led the delegation to SCOAN, said the visit was in recognition that the church is an international Christian congregation whose members comprise of people from all over the world including the countries of West African sub-region already affected by the disease.
The commissioner added that the visit is one of the state government’s strategies of sensitizing faith-based organizations on the need to cooperate with the governments to prevent the spread of the disease in the country by educating worshippers to report health issues to medical experts.
Idris said the Federal and Lagos State government are working hard to prevent a spread of the virus into the country. The delegation has deemed it fit to educate and create awareness among the multinational congregation on the disease and how it can spread.
“We have our strategies that we intend to share with you. Again, we need to know the resources you have here because whether it is one or two cases, if they are allowed to get out, it is a major problem. We are here to work together on how to contain this disease,” Idris told the cleric.
Another member of the delegation and Director, Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi said the visit was to inform the Synagogue Church leadership about the deadliness of the Ebola Virus and to ensure that it does not escape into the country.
Nasidi, who is an Epidemiologist and Virologist, said the meeting is a “Positive engagement mission” saying the team is seeking the cooperation of the church in containing the virus.
“We are here to engage you positively, we know the powers of this House and your powers and we are duty- bound to protect you and your congregation. We have no doubt the power God has given you, we can’t do that, but we want to help and make it wax stronger,” he said.
Prophet Joshua, in his reaction, promised to work with government. One of such measures, he said, was to visit any of the countries, rather than allow their residents come into Nigeria.
He also promised to suspend some of his major church healing programmes for a few weeks adding, “I am ready to work with you. I love my country and I will be ready to work with you. Even if it is a rumour, there is need to secure our environment to ensure that it is safe.”
-FEMI OYEWALE
