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Abia at 28: Catholic Bishop bemoans poor state of infrastructure, non-payment of salaries

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  • Bishop Okoye, Rev. Father Anyanwu ask Otti to remain resolute, focused

 

BY OUR EDITOR

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, has advised the Abia government to take urgent steps to address the huge infrastructure deficit in the state, especially Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

He made the call in his sermon on Sunday during a special thanksgiving mass to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the creation of the state at Mater Dei Cathedral, Umuahia.

This was just as Bishop M. U. Okoye of Christ Ascension Church, Ogbor Hill and Rev. Father Kelechi Anyanwu of St. Francis of Assizi Catholic Church, both in Aba, encouraged Dr. Alex Otti, the APGA governorship candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Abia State, to remain resolute in his political ambition.

Otti and his entourage had joined the faithful to worship in the two churches as part of events to mark the 28th anniversary of the creation of Abia State.

Drawing from the plights of the Israelites in captivity in Egypt and later history of black slaves in America, both of which groups overcame bondage to attain freedom, Bishop Okoye and Rev. Father Anyanwu, respectively, urged Dr. Otti and his team to remain focused, committed and strong in faith, assuring that God was about to deliver Abia State.

Bishop Onuoha Convener, Dr. Alex Otti and Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu at the signing of peace agreement among gubernatorial candidates for the 2019 election in Abia State.

 

Most Rev. Ugorji, speaking before a retinue of government officials, lamented that the state of infrastructure in Aba was deplorable and begging for immediate government’s attention to avert its total collapse.

The cleric also urged the government to endeavour to pay workers and teachers “promptly, as an when due” in order to motivate them to give their best.

He expressed profound gratitude and joy to God for the human and mineral deposits as well as other material resources endowed on the state, saying the state had produced great sons and daughters, who had excelled in different spheres of human endeavours across the globe.

He further said that Aba possessed great potential that had attracted enormous trade and investment from other parts of Nigeria and West African region.

He observed that with diligent exploitation of the potential, Aba would be one of the greatest cities in Africa.

The Catholic Bishop expressed worry over the growing state of insecurity in the state, citing the menace of herdsmen and their wanton destruction of people’s farms in the state.

The clergyman alleged that herdsmen recently attacked the diocesan farm, destroying crops worth over N2.5 million and attempted “to stab the farm manager to death.”

He regretted that although the matter was reported to security agencies, no arrest had yet been made.

He therefore charged security agencies in the state to rise to their responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizenry.

Ugorji, however, commended the government’s handover of schools to missions but said that there were still some hiccups in the completion process.

Deputy Gov. Ude Oko-Chukwu, who represented Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu at the solemn event, thanked God for the relative security in the state, in spite of the widespread security challenges in the country.

Oko-Chukwu also said that Abia had enjoyed substantial peace and harmony among political class in the state.

He commended the efforts of the founding fathers of the state in the realisation of the state in 1991 and promised that the present administration would continue to uphold the ideals of the elder statesmen. (with NAN)

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