Governor Udom Emmanuel says governance is a call to duty and wants leaders to see how they can use the awesome instrument and power of government to advance the common good, create opportunity for all and to provide the enabling environment for the people.
Mr. Emmanuel, who stated this Sunday during a thanksgiving mass for Senator Godswill Akpabio and family organized by the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene at St. Anne Cathedral, Ifuho, after a successful tenure as the governor of the state from 2007-2015, enjoined Nigerian leaders to cherish the ennobling ideals in providing people-centric service to improve the lots of the masses exemplified by the immediate past governor.
He urged the naysayers and those who do not see the redeeming value in government to stop demonizing their leaders, and quoted John 12:6-7 whose deeper interpretation was a call for altruism to eschew selfish impulses and the need to put the interest of the people far above personal or pecuniary considerations.
The Governor enjoined Nigerians to support and pray for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari remarked, “We must continue to pray for our country especially for President Buhari for God to guide him to rule Nigeria well”.
Emmanuel thanked God for helping Chief Akpabio to govern the state for the past eight years, which he said that the result is speaking and commended the guests for rejoicing and honoring the family of Godswill Akpabio after a successful tenure as the immediate past governor of the state, assuring Akwa Ibom people that the state is in safe hands and that he would do his best not to disappoint the people of the state.
The chief celebrator, Senator Akpabio thanked all the guests for gracing the event, Catholic Church and other churches in the state for interceding for him throughout his administration, stressing that in spite of the various distractions by critics, he was focused, which he said is why God saw him through a successful tenure and advice that ‘Whenever God gives you an opportunity, ensure to leave it better than how you met it’.
Senator Akpabio thanked the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene for organizing the event for him and his family, other churches in the state for interceding for him throughout his administration as a governor, dignitaries for gracing the event, stressing that inspired by distractions by critics, he continued to remain focus with God seeing him through a successful tenure and advised that ‘whenever God gives you an opportunity, ensure to leave it better than how you met it’.
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike who was at the event, thanked the people of the state for voting in Chief Akpabio into the Senate, stressing that Akpabio’s performance as the immediate state governor is a shining example for the South-South and Nigeria in general, pledging to work with him, urging him to bring the image of the South-South in the forefront at the Senate.
The Catholic Bishop of Ikot Ekpene, Most. Rev. (Dr.) Camillus Umoh, said God has absolute power over nature and man’s lives, and called on Christians to utilize the gift that God has bestowed on them, stressing that everyone must live right and to know that on the last day everyone shall appear before God to give account of their lives on earth, stressing that ‘whatever one plants, he or she must surely harvest it’.
He said the event entails God telling Christians to be vigilant and honest in what they do, stressing that if one can deceive his fellow brother or sister, he can never deceive God and urge them to concentrate on what God called them to do on earth and to leave wickedness aside, thanked God for the harmonious relationship between the past and present governor of the state.
Most. Rev. Umoh then called on the people of the state to do away with criticisms and gossips for the government to move forward, disclosing that the immediate governor was loved because he did not listen to gossip or weighed down by criticisms but was determined to touch the lives of the people, through infrastructural development that was on ground for all to see, stressing that his administration was that of excellence, that has promoted the integrity of the state.
The Bishop, therefore, urged Governor Emmanuel not to listen to criticisms but to ignore such for the success of his administration, and advised the present and past governors of the state to surrender themselves to God for Him to direct them, calling on Senator Akpabio to sponsor bills that are beneficiary to the people of the state and the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment