Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, the incoming Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, and his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, on Sunday, held a Thanksgiving Mass at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu.
The mass, organised by Enugu State Government, was to thank God for a successful two-term tenure of Ugwuanyi which will end on Monday, and a sustained and peaceful inauguration of a new Government of Mbah which will be held same day.
Speaking at the event tagged “Transition Thanksgiving Mass”, which attracted the Clergy, members of National Assembly, members of Enugu State House of Assembly, politicians, traditional rulers, family members, friends and well wishers of the celebrants, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga, applauded peaceful virtues embodied by the Ugwuanyi administration. He prayed for the success of the incoming administration of Mbah.
Bishop Onaga prayed God to give Mbah the strength, courage and wisdom to transform and lead Enugu State to the promised land.
He noted that Mbah’s victory at the March 18 governorship election was an act of God already designed for that purpose. The Cleric called on all residents and citizens in the state to support the new administration in order to bring the much desired positive change that would impact on the lives of the people.
He also stated that the Church was having double celebration because of the Feast of the Holy Spirit popularly called Pentecost Sunday, saying that the Cathedral took its name after the feast, adding that the state had every reason to be grateful to God for the journey so far.
In his homily, Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike enjoined Christians and all people around the world to see the Feast of the Holy Spirit and what it represents as an opportunity to unite and live in peace amongst themselves.
He called on public servants in the country to see themselves as people called to serve and not to enrich themselves with public funds. The Cleric urged them to shun corruption and prioritize the needs that would advance the common good of the public.
Expressing optimism that the governor-elect would not only transform but also industrialise the state through his robust programmes and policies, the cleric described him as a rare technocrat who has cut his teeth in the private sector where his company is presently the dominant player in the oil and gas downstream sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.
Monsignor Ike enjoined Mbah to consider only technocrats and experts in his appointments to fast track the implementation of his agenda for the overall benefit of the state.
He advised the governor-elect to avoid career politicians with little or nothing to contribute to his programmes as contained in his manifesto.
Recall that Mbah had promised not to spare any time before vigorously pursuing his disruptive innovation, which would engender industrialisation, growth and development across the various sectors in the state.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Hon(Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo the Governor-elect, Dr Peter Mbah, and the Deputy Governor-elect, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai attended the mass with their spouses, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah and Mrs. Adaeze Ossai, respectively.
The thanksgiving celebration was graced by eminent dignitaries across and outside the state. They included the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, the Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Afojulu Raymond Ozoemena, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Enugu State, Hon. Justice George Chibueze Nnamani, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Prof. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, his Awgu Diocese counterpart, Most Rev. John Ifeanyichukwu Okoye, the Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Dr. Ernest Obodo, and the Bishop Emeritus of Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Gbuji.
Others included former governors of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, and his wife, Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the former governor of the old Enugu State, Chief Okwesilize Nwodo, and his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Nwodo, members of the State House of Assembly, members and members-elect of National and State Houses of Assembly, members of the transition and inauguration committees, former members of the State Executive Council, amongst other personalities.
