By CHARLES IWUOHA

The federal government has released a huge sum of money for the reconstruction of the Ogwuma section of Ebunwana – Ekoli Edda road recently devastated by landslide.

Governor David Umahi disclosed this on Sunday during an interdenominational church service to mark the 62nd Independence Day celebration of Nigeria and 26 years of creation of Ebonyi State.

The church service was held at Saint Paul’s Catholic Parish Onuebonyi, Abakaliki.

The Governor appreciated the President for the gesture and other numerous assistance to the State within the period of his administration, adding that there has been no single memo taken to the President on behalf of the state that failed to receive his approval.

Governor Umahi, who restated his earlier decision to choose his successor from Ebonyi North Zone in 2023, insisted that it was in the interest of justice, equity and fairness. He urged the People to rally round the candidacy of Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru, assuring that Nwifuru would consolidate on his lofty achievements.

“I am a product of justice, equity and fairness and because of equity I insist that the next Governor must come from the North, but I can see few people of Ebonyi North still wanting power to return to almost the same town with me.

“Anything that is not rooted in justice, equity and fairness is bound to fall.

“I believe in justice, equity and fairness.

“After waiting on the Lord, God spoke to me about my successor.

“That seat has been anointed, and it is for the Speaker who has served the State and I want to assure you that he is a product of the Church.

“May it please God and the Church.”

The Governor while attributing the successes of his administration to the partnership with the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Divine Mandate Pastors, the Elders Council; the Founding Fathers among others, reiterated that his Government would continue to impact lives until it winds down in 2023.

“When I was building the Governor's Lodge in Abuja, Tinubu passed there and said he thought it was a five-star hotel.

“Shettima passed and said it is the best house in the whole of Abuja.

“”In other words, I was building for the future.

“That is the way to go.”

Governor Umahi further admonished Ebonyi citizens to always give gratitude to God.

“We cannot get up until we begin to be grateful to God.

“Gratitude is an acknowledgement of the mercies of God in our lives so we have to give it because if we keep it, it becomes dangerous.”

Governor Umahi pledged to assist the church complete its ongoing church building as well as provide solar lights, boreholes and and a 50KVA transformer to the church to enhance power supply from national grid.

In a sermon, the South East Zonal Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Father Abraham Nwali, tasked christians on the imperative of gratitude as a justification for God's benevolence to mankind.

Nwali, also the parish priest of the church, observed that constant complaints rob christians of the spirit of gratitude, emphasized that Ebonyi State has many reasons to be thankful to God.

“We owe God gratitude; every living being should be grateful to God.

“Anybody that is always complaining in life finds it difficult to appreciate good things.

“Why are we grateful to God as Ebonyians?

“Twenty-six years ago, part of the whole place now called Ebonyi State was formerly known as one Local Government, Abakaliki Local government.

“When the state was newly created, the idea of coming to Ebonyi State was a nightmare.

“We should be grateful because of the discipline; we should be grateful because of the unity bridges of Chief Elechi; we should be grateful because of the free education of Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu, and we should be grateful because of the Infrastructural development and human empowerment of Governor Umahi.”

Update news