Urges People to Take Vaccination

By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba

The Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Jonas Benson Okoye, has called on the masses to visit the designated health centres across Anambra State and Nigeria and get themselves vaccinated with the approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Bishop Okoye, who stated this in his homily of the 2012 Annual Chrism Mass and Cathedraticum of Nimo Catholic Region of Awka Diocese, held at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church Podium, Nimo, Njikoka LGA, Anambra State, doused the fear of possible side effects of the vaccine as alleged in some quarters.

The bishop, who said he had taken his own COVID-19 vaccine and did not experience any negative effect, assured that the vaccine was free from any side effect. He noted that the vaccine which would help in checkmating the coronavirus pandemic was of great benefit to every individual. He encouraged all to get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible so as to save themselves from contracting the virus.

Most Rev Okoye urged all not to lose hope in the midst of the hardship, which, he said, was caused by the pandemic and its attendant lockdown; but instead, to live in thanksgiving to God who saved their lives from the pandemic and made it possible for them to go about their activities.

The bishop, who also at the event condemned again, the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, flayed the Federal Government over its inability to address the menace. He described Fulani herdsmen’s attack, banditry insurgence, among others, as threats to the country and the harmless citizens.

Pointing out that he had at the earlier visit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to the Nigerian Vice President, condemned the spate of Fulani herdsmen’s attacks and destruction of farm produce and farm lands, especially in the Southeast and Middle belt, described the attacks and destruction as man-made evil and unacceptable.

He called on the Nigerian Government to adopt and enforce cattle ranching and the Igbos who still had likeness for cattle meat to engage in cattle ranching so as to put an end to the destruction of farm lands and their produce by cows.