Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Niger-Delta North, Most Rev’d. Ignatius Kattey, yesterday urged the outgoing Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and his successor, Nyesom Wike, to reconcile by settling their differences.
He stated this while delivering his sermon during a thanksgiving service to mark the beginning of the inauguration programme of the governor-elect and his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt.
Kattey decried the partisan position taken by some traditional rulers and clerics during the general elections, and encouraged the two leaders to begin seeing each other as brothers, stressing that, “Pastors, men of God and traditional rulers should be non-partisan. They should not take sides in politics. Amaechi and Wike are both Rivers’ persons”.
While urging the Governor-elect not to abandon God, Kattey explained that the governor-elect should be mindful of the fact that he remained the governor of the state and not of a religion or a political party and expressed the need for Wike to appreciate God’s faithfulness.
Delivering a sermon titled ‘Praise God,’ the cleric noted that Wike’s emergence as the governor-elect was an indication that it was not the will of God that he (Wike) should lose the governorship poll.
While urging Amaechi to remain grateful to God for saving him from the PDP, Kattey also enjoined him to praise God for giving the PDP the victory during the governorship election in the state.
His words, “You are governor to all churches; you are governor to all political parties in the state. You are governor to all, irrespective of political or religious affiliation.
“If God did not want you to be governor of the state, you can’t be. Therefore, hold onto God; I am appealing to you not to abandon God if you must succeed. They must come with all sorts of charm, but hold strong to God.
“Don’t be overconfident and don’t take things for granted. Don’t push God aside; depend on God. But if you hold strongly onto God, you will succeed. All of us have taken you by your words. Be firm. If you say you are not a secret cult member, stand firm,” Kattey added.
Speaking at the service, the incoming governor restated his readiness to rebuild Rivers State, where things would function without hitches immediately he assumed office.
He further assured that his government would ensure that the judiciary and the legislature in the state functioned effectively and that the traditional institution would not be left behind.
Wike, who was represented by the Chairman of his transition committee and a former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Austin Opara, stated that the journey to the Government House in Port Harcourt began in 2013.
Comentarios