Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has called on Nigerians to be extremely vigilant over the likely return of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and unrelenting insecurity in the new year.
The South West group, in its New Year message yesterday, stressed the importance of Nigerians, and Yoruba in particular, to exercise extreme caution in their daily activities.
President of the group, Mr. Akin Malaolu, stated: “Too many lives have been needlessly lost because of insufficient attention by the state and opinion leaders to insecurity and COVID-19 surge in 2020. We have allowed the problems to fester like an open sore in the same way we have normalised insecurity as part of Nigerian life.”
The group urged Nigerians to abide by the measures outlined to contain the spread of COVID-19, saying: “No permanent cure has been found. We must halt the imperiling of the future through our unbridled love for freedom. We must stop being stubborn in heeding good counsel. We must stop leading people to avoidable calamity in the name of festivities and religiosity.”
While commending the state governments that have put out clear directives on crossover services and congregational worship, Yoruba Ronu said it was imperative for governments to step up public awareness, as true worship is not limited to being physically present in churches, mosques, or shrines.
“The heart of the believer is the most important and we urge our people to present their hearts receptive for divine blessings and guidance.
“To the traders and buyers, we urge all to exercise the needed care of wearing face masks, improve on personal hygiene and maintain social distancing to limit people’s exposure.”
After all, it is the living that can enjoy the fruits of their labour.”
The South West region must pay close attention to what goes on in the forests to ensure greater security, it stressed.
“This is the time to make it unprofitable for deviants who have made a business of killing, rape and kidnapping for ransom. We call on all people of goodwill to join hands to reclaim our country from the throes of nepotistic incompetence which most times colours our ability to objectively assess problems and situations, thereby compounding them. For Nigeria to survive, we must secure the land for commerce and social-cultural engagements.”
