Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, has declared May 29 as an annual day of Prayer and Worship in the state.

Speaking at an interdenominational victory thanksgiving service on Sunday at the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Governor Okowa said the prayer and worship would feature internationally acclaimed gospel singers to praise God for His goodness to the state.

“We are all Deltans and should work to move Delta State forward, we bear no grudge against anybody, we will move forward as a state and every May 29, we will dedicate it as a day of prayer and worship to the Lord, our God,” he said. “I thank all of you for coming for this thanksgiving but, the true thanksgiving is for us to be sensitive and accountable to our people.”

The Governor, who was flanked by his Deputy, Barr. Otuaro; his wife, Dame Edith, and wife of the Deputy Governor, Engr. Mrs. Ebi Otuaro, said the thanksgiving was necessary because God made it possible for him and his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro to emerge victorious in the elections and also, defeated his opponents in the different electoral courts.

“Deltans, we thank you; through your votes, we are where are today; we trust in God; when we went into the election, we came out victorious; we were confident in the name of God,” he said, adding: “When the judgement was moved to Abuja, people were worried but, I told all who cared to ask that The Lord had taken over and God gave us victory; we thank God for the victory and I ask for reconciliation because, we need to stay together, we need to partner together to develop Delta State.”

He appealed to Deltans to “partner with us, pray for us, pray for Delta State, through your prayers, our land will be healed and there will be increase . . . You should pray for those in government whether they are doing well or not because, when you pray for us and get committed to Delta State just as Kingsley Otuaro and I are, God will turn things around in Delta State for all of us to be happier.”

Preaching at the occasion, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said thanksgiving was very important stating: “God is waiting for you to take you to the next stage of your life but, what is required to move God to move on your behalf is thanksgiving.”

While emphasising that “the only power that can sustain your laughter is thanksgiving; you will miss God without thanksgiving,” the Pastor observed that most people fails to give thanks to God because of unconfessed sins, ignorance and arrogance.

He commended Governor Okowa for believing in God, asserting: “Your Excellency, I rejoice with you, nobody can give thanks and remain the same because, thanksgiving is about what God did and it is also for what God will do.”

People from different parts of the country attended the thanksgiving service which was filled to capacity

•Photo shows Governor Okowa.

Update news