Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Ugorji, have called on Nigerians to embrace unity, integrity and individual responsibility if they really love the country.
The duo spoke Sunday, September 27, 2026 at a Special Thanksgiving and Eucharistic Service held at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence in 1960, Uzodimma said the country had survived civil war, military rule, economic difficulties and political crises, noting that the sacrifices of millions of ordinary Nigerians had helped keep the nation together.
“Nigeria at 66 is our country. It belongs to all of us,” the Governor said, and urged the citizens to look beyond government and contribute to nation-building through responsible conduct.
He acknowledged the economic difficulties facing families and businesses, saying the government had a responsibility to ensure that citizens’ sacrifices translated into meaningful improvements in their lives.
The Governor who stressed that “leadership begins at home,” urged Nigerians to obey laws, shun dishonesty and handle entrusted resources with integrity wherever they find themselves in positions of service.
He said it makes no sense that most of the things the citizens complained were wrongly done by those in positions of authority have often been done in worse ways by the same citizens who occupy positions of responsibility at the the family, Community, and even Church levels.
In his homily, Archbishop Ugorji identified corruption, insecurity, poverty, unemployment, inadequate power supply and weak institutions as major challenges to national development.
He, however, commended Governor Uzodimma for the giant stride his administration has made in infrastructural development and particularly with the Orashi electricity power supply in the State.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” Ugorji quoted Proverbs 14:34, and urged Nigerians to embrace honesty, accountability, fairness and merit.
“If we want a new Nigeria, we must become new Nigerians,” Ugorji declared, and called for national unity, credible elections and an end to ethnic and religious divisions.
Among those present were the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Ukwuoma; Catholic Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Solomon Amatu; Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Obiatuegwu; representative of Bishop of Ahiara Diocese; and many other other clergy of Catholic extraction and other denominations.
Also present were the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, and her husband, Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN); Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Aguguo; Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, his deputy, Rt. Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu and other members of the State Assembly; President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Mr. Victor Okorie.
Others include the APC State Chairman, Austin Onyedebelu and other members of the State Working Committee; former deputy Governors of Imo State – Prof Placid Njoku and Chief Judge Agbaso, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, members of the Imo State Expanded Executive Council, Service Commanders and Heads of Security Agencies; the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers/ Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Eze Dr. Emmanuel Okeke, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Ikenchukwu (Keagborekuzi 1), the Chairman of Imo Elders Council and Co-Chair of Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, HRH, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and other traditional rulers, Local Government Council Chairmen, stakeholders, Captains of industry led by Chief Tony Chukwu, heads of MDAs, Imo leaders and Christian faithful.
