Kingsley Joshua
ABUJA – The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called on the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria to be patient and to support the reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu, expressing confidence that they’ll soon bear fruits of economic prosperity……CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
He made the call on Sunday in his opening address as the Chairman of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio said, “Let me seize this opportunity to urge my compatriots to be patient with your government as we lay again the foundations of this house. Do not despair when the winds blow strong or the scaffolding shakes.”
A statement by the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio as urging Nigerians never to be despaired by the current situation that Nigeria was going through but to look forward to a brighter future.
“For a nation is like a mighty cathedral—it is not raised overnight, but stone by stone, prayer by prayer, hand by hand. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31).
“Let us therefore renew hope in the Nigerian enterprise. Let us believe again that our land can be great, that our children can inherit a future brighter than our present. Let us bind the wounds of division, banish the cynicism of despair, and walk together—Church and State, pulpit and parliament, faith and policy—towards the dawn.
“Transformation is not the burden of one arm of society, nor the privilege of a select few. It is a covenant of partnership. As St. Paul declares: “We are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who represented President Tinubu said the administration was working towards building a country that works for everyone.
“This administration came into office with a firm commitment to renew hope, strengthen our democratic institutions and build a Nigeria that works for all. We have taken bold steps to stabilize the economy, attract investment and implement reforms that will bring enduring benefits to our country.”
He urged the Church to keep supporting the government and assured that the Tinubu administration would leave no one behind through its social investment programmes.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno said the Catholic Church has played key roles all over the world in fighting injustice, enthroning democratic governance and placing the welfare of the people at the centre of her policies.
He said his administration has invested heavily in lifting people out of poverty, especially the poor and vulnerable persons and to improve their living conditions.
He enumerated several intervention programmes initiated by the government. He called for the continued support of the Church in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.
The conference had in attendance the Apostolic Nuncio and representative of the Pope, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, Catholic Bishops from all over Nigeria and other Catholic faithful, members of the National Assembly, politicians and the worshippers from all parts of the country.
The Southwest, often sidelined in PDP’s power calculus, is pressing for stronger inclusion. Hosting the convention in Ibadan was part of this lobbying, with Makinde reportedly securing Oyo’s claim to the secretaryship slot……CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
