Governor Godswill Akpabio has expressed optimism that Guinness World Records broken by a Nigerian choir for assembling the largest choir on earth would foster peace and unity among the people.
Akpabio stated this Tuesday at the executive chambers of Governor’s Office, Uyo when the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Elder Etekamba Umoren presented him a certificate by World Guinness Records broken by Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir for assembling 25,272 carol singers on December 13, 2014 at Uyo Sports Stadium that smashed the record of 15,674 singers set by CENTI, Bigota, Columbia on December 15, 2013.
“Through this record, God will bring peace to Nigeria. Because we recognise God, it shall bring an end to insurgency. No serious tragedy shall occur in Nigeria. It shall be a point of contact for God to show mercy to Nigeria and to change the hearts of the youths involved in social vices and insurgency”, he noted.
The governor recalled that initially government’s intention was to use the choir to engender unity among the people, but the Director of Protocol to the Governor now the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Uyo, Aniekpeno Mkpanang and his team assembled 9,999 carol singers and broke Guinness World Records of about 7000 singers set in 2004 in the United States of America, lauding him for his ingenuity and hard work in beating the records set by choirs from other countries.
He hinted that his administration has formed a strong synergy with God by organising a solemn assembly at the beginning of the year and ending the year with Akwa Ibom Government Christmas Carol Night featuring 9,999 carol singers joining their voices to praise God.
The governor pointed out that his administration was not interested in winning any competition but was keen on using the choir to unify the people by ensuring that every village or clan in the state could have a participant in the choir.
Representing Guinness World Records adjudicator, Liz Smith, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Elder Umoren, congratulated the Governor for breaking the record and declared “This is the long-awaited certificate. This is the World Guinness Records consisting of 25,272 participants with their phone numbers who featured on December 13, 2014 at Uyo Sports Stadium. On behalf of World Guinness Records, London, I hereby present the certificate to your Excellency”’.
Earlier, Mr. Mkpanang had extolled the virtues of the governor in sponsoring the event that culminated in the record breaking, saying “You are a record breaker. In the course of your stewardship, caterpillar has become a butterfly… When you started in 2007, there were no flyovers. But today, there is a record-breaking flyovers. There is a record-breaking Governor’s Office. There is a record-breaking Governor’s Lodge. There is a record-breaking international airport. There is a record –breaking Akwa Ibom International Stadium called nest of champions…”
Mkpanang, who described the governor as the progenitor-in-chief of Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir observed that he has added another feather to his plumage by breaking World Guinness Records in assembling 25,272 carol singers, the largest in the world.
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