Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has advised the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to check fake clerics whose activities have continued to constitute threat to the true Christian worship.
Umahi gave the charge during an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark this year’s 56th Independence Day celebration and 20th anniversary of the creation of Ebonyi State at the Assemblies of God Church, Abakaliki, last Sunday.
According to him, “Let me appeal to the church that during the last election, there were some so-called churches destroying the name of the Lord. I know that they and their pastors still exist. I therefore ask CAN to check them. It is not everybody that calls the name of the Lord that is actually of God. I will be ready to join you to check their activities.”
Umahi, who listed the categories of people to be recognised during the next Independence Day celebration and Ebonyi State at 21, thanked the church for supporting his administration through supplications.
He mentioned those to be recognised on October1 next year to include the family of the late General Sani Abacha and Chief Authur Mbanefo.
Abacha created the state 21 years ago while Mbanefo headed the committee that recommended its creation.
Umahi said: “Next October, we will be looking at those who made the creation of our dear state possible. These are people like late Abacha who God used, and Mbanefo, who were the chairman of the committee that recommended the creation of the state and some other founding fathers of the state.
“So we will like to recognise them, including the Abacha’s family. But we are also going to review the founding fathers. We are going to set up a committee to honour them.
“We are going to start this year or early next year to renovate the palace of Akanu Ibiam, the man who also played a central role in the creation of this state before he died.”
The governor paid glowing tributes to the members of the state legislature, the judiciary and the executive for their individual and collective sacrifices towards the promotion of good governance and ideal democracy in the state.
He also called on the churches to preach hard work, reiterating that his administrator would soon ask the legislature to enact a law against idleness.
In a sermon, the Chairman of the state CAN, Rev Emmanuel Nshi, identified obedience to God as the antidote to the present social economic and security challenges in the country. He advised Nigerians to seek the face of God and stop blaming one another over the woes facing the country.
Intercessory prayers were offered for the sustenance of peace and good governance in Nigeria.
