Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike says he might re-impose lockdown from January 2021 following the rising cases of coronavirus in the state.
According to a statement by his media aide Kelvin Ebiri, the governor stated this on Sunday during a thanksgiving ceremony held for Priscilla Mark on her 90th birthday at St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government.
Wike lamented the non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols in churches and markets.
He said: “When you go to some churches, they don’t wear masks. Go to the market, they don’t wear masks. They believe COVID is not real. It’s not real because it has not happened to you; nobody had died whom you know. When somebody has died and the person was close to you, you will know that Covid is real.
“So, it is real and I want to appeal to all of you that we have to be more strict now because the second wave is more dangerous than the first wave. It’s very, very dangerous. I know how many people we have lost since the second wave started.”
Wike implored the bishop of Ikwerre Diocese to prevail on worshippers under his jurisdiction to always wear their face masks and observe COVID-19 protocols.
“If you don’t comply, I have no choice, but to shut down the churches; Pentecostal, Catholic, Anglican. I have no choice, because when you have it, who spends the money? It is the state that treats.
“So, we need to use the money for some other things, but not for this. Let us discipline ourselves and know that COVID is real. Let nobody tell you that there is nothing like COVID. It’s real,” he said.
