BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor has beckoned on all Nigerians to use the period of the country’s 54th Independence Celebration to praise and thank God for the gift of a Nation called Nigeria even as he insists that in spite of the political, religious and terrorism challenges that go with nationhood, Nigeria still has every cause to celebrate.Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this in his independence message at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, expressed optimism that the country would soon be ranked among the most safest and economically viable states in the world saying that the Nation had come a long way and cannot afford to lose its sight of sovereignty.
He expressed the hope that with prayers and commitment all the political, religious crisis and now terrorism would be the thing of the past and exhorted Nigerians to shun comparison and lack of faith in the stability of the Nigeria as a Nation saying that for Nigeria to attain such a gargantuan height everyone craved for the leaders and the led must learn to be selfless and responsive to issues that concerned Nigeria.
He enjoined Nigerians to unite in the onerous journey to create a more peaceful and stable country and reiterated the Church’s commitment in praying for the unity of the country while calling on all others to play down on the issue of disintegration emphasizing that every state had its challenges.
Meanwhile, the Bishop has congratulated the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Anambra Central senatorial designate, Chief Sir Victor Umeh in the recent honour done to him by President Goodluck Jonathan as a recipient of the award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) describing it as an award most deserving.
He exhorted him to continue to do good and as well use his position and influence to win souls for God adding that the Church’s stand was for all to make heaven at last.
‘On behalf of myself, the auxiliary Bishop of Awka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye; the Priests, religious and entire lay faithful of the Diocese, I say a very big congratulations to you,’ the Bishop said.
