. . . Commends Armed Forces for paying supreme prize for Nigerians

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has noted that occasions such as the Thanksgiving Church Service to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day should be used to “discourage those who are not officially authorized to carry arms to drop their arms and stop causing trouble in the society.”

The Governor spoke on Sunday at the Assumpta Catholic Cathedral Owerri at a Thanksgiving Church Service to mark the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day officially slated for January 15.

He reassured Imo people that he has come “to serve with the fear of God,” reiterating that what he saw on assumption of office was “too bad” but that “by the Grace of God” he is making “frantic effort to surmount them.”

The Governor added: “I came. I saw and I will conquer.”

He called on citizens of the country to spare a thought for those who paid the supreme prize in their quest to protect the lives and property of Nigerians as well as to defend her territorial integrity.

Uzodimma commended members of the Armed Forces for paying the supreme prize for the unity, peace and protection of fellow humans in Nigeria in general and Imo State in particular.

He specifically lauded them for their efforts in Imo State, recently, that made it possible for the indigenes and residents to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities peacefully and in a conducive environment.

The Governor seized the opportunity to thank the Archbishop, Most Rev Dr. Anthony JV Obinna, and his team for the spirit-filled Homily and the take away from the Service.

Uzodimma informed that the Government and the Armed Forces were at the Church Service to show solidarity to the families of the deceased soldiers who lost their dear ones trying to defend our fatherland and protect the lives and property of the citizenry, “and to encourage the serving ones to continue in their good works to keep Nigeria one and Imo State in peace.”

He also reminded the congregants that it is not every decision of government that will go down well immediately with them, but that with time, they would appreciate why such decision or policy was initiated.

“It is only when such administration may have come and gone that such decisions will be better appreciated.”

Uzodimma reminded his audience that all the challenges faced today in Nigeria in general and Imo State in particular are not peculiar them, noting: “Rather all over the world there are challenges of either economic or social nature.”

He assured of his determination, in all circumstances, “to continue to protect the lives and property of Imo people” which he swore to an oath, and expressed the determination of his government to continue to recover Imo from the bad State of affairs he found it on assumption of duty.

Uzodimma, who concluded his remarks by calling on the Archbishop to always find a place in his heart to accommodate the challenges the politicians go through, also enjoined the politicians to constantly have the interest of the people in mind as they go about their businesses.

Earlier in his Homily, Most Rev. Obinna had cautioned the Armed Forces against what he called “unreasonable wickedness, hatred, brutality and enslaving of human beings and use of military weapons to intimidate the people.”

He rather urged them to imitate “God’s unreasonable kindness that made Him to send His only begotten Son to come and lay His life for us all,” noting that we all will give account of our stewardship when we come face to face with our creator.

All the Armed Forces Chiefs serving in Imo State – Army, Navy, Air Force, the Police, the Correctional Services, the DSS, the Civil Defence Corps were represented at the thanksgiving Service.

Governor Uzodimma was joined by his Deputy, Prof Placid Njoku, the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Kennedy Ibe, and his colleagues, the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Chikeka, Secretary to Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and members of the State Expanded Executive Council.

Also in attendance were the Imo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, MacDonald Ebere and his predecessor, Marcellinus Nlemigbo, and key party officials, interim Chairmen of the Imo State local government areas, key traditional rulers and leaders from the state.

•PHOTO: Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Province, Most Rev Dr Anthony JV Obinna flanked on the right, by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and on the left, by Deputy Governor Prof Placid Njoku at the Assumpta Cathedral Owerri during the thanksgiving Service to mark the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day . . . Sunday.

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