It was a humble beginning and an inspirational experience full of hope, adoration and dedication to God for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, government officials and civil servants, on the first working day of the year, when a New Year prayer session was held to commit the activities of the State Government to the hands of God in commemoration of the feast of the New Year.
The intercessory prayer, which was in keeping with the longstanding tradition where a Governor on the saddle commences the activities of his administration with prayers on every first working day of the year, was also in furtherance of Governor Ugwuanyi’s outstanding approach to governance which places God first as the fulcrum of the success story of his administration.
The event which attracted notable Men of God and top government functionaries, provided an apt opportunity for the governor to appreciate the people of the State and renew their hope in God and the ability of his administration to bring meaningful development to impact positively on the lives of the citizenry. It was also an opportunity to pay homage to God for making it possible for them to see the New Year and appreciate His goodness and mercies to mankind.
The governor while addressing the people stated that “by bringing us into the New Year, God has indeed given us another chance to not only improve our lives but to rededicate ourselves to the building of a secure and viable society for the benefit of all and sundry”.
He added that his administration had presented the 2016 Budget where it articulated its plans and visions to entrench stability and consolidate the current tempo of development in the state, promising not to allow the prevailing harsh economic climate in the country prevent it from attaining the lofty objectives that were set out for the benefit of the people.
As a man with absolute faith in God who makes prayers his watchword, the governor told the people that his administration can only achieve its objectives through prayers as well as their active participation and support and called on them (people) to remain unrelenting in their prayers for God’s grace especially now that the economic outlook of the country remains bleak and unpredictable.
According to him: “We further solicit your continued support for all the efforts and plans of government to bring sustainable development to all sectors of the economy and to all corners of Enugu State despite the daunting challenges of the day”.
The governor ended his address by assuring the people of the State of his determination to take Enugu State to desirable heights through the help of God.
Prior to the governor’s address, the climax of New Year prayer session was preceded by an inspirational sermon delivered by the Director of Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace, CIDJAP, Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, who stood in for the Archbishop of the Enugu Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma.
In a well thought-out homily entitled “By myself I can do nothing”, Prof. Ike called on the people to have faith in God “as a gift from our Creator that leads us through in all our endeavours in life”.
He appreciated Governor Ugwuanyi for his adherence to things of God since he was saddled with the responsibility of governing Enugu State. He said that the State is now founded on faith, emphasizing that it was this faith that will sustain the State in this challenging period.
The Catholic Priest urged the people to begin the New Year with prayers and give the governor the maximum support to do God’s Will.
On attitude to work, the Clergy’s New Year message was that civil servants should make accountablity, sincerity and diligence to duty their watchword to justify the wage they earn at the end of every month. He equally urged them to be good players and desist from engaging in acts that would undermine the overall interest of the State.
The Monsignor advised the people in governance who are always around the governor not to push him to do things that do not represent his humble background and the interest of the people he was elected to serve. He told the governor to remain steadfast and focused on his vision to take Enugu State to greater heights and charged him to “be a man who will tell those 50 cars that will come to welcome him at the airport, why are you not in your office, go and do your work. I went to Abuja for an official work and I am going to my office to do my own work.”
Continuing, Prof. Ike advised government establishments in the country to pay attention on revenue generation as a way of withstanding the present downturn in nation’s economy. He enjoined Nigerians to pay their taxes to be able to enjoy more services of the government in this harsh economic situation.
He said, “If Enugu State is seven million in population with high number of civil servants and if the budget goes 80% for recurrent expenditure, there is problem in our hands. That’s why it is good to increase the budget of our time and that is why people should agree to pay taxes. There is no way you can run a State without people paying for the utility they use. People should agree to pay taxes.
“Those that are in charge of taxes in the past will come and urge you to pay tax, they will tell you that you are suppose to pay fifty thousand naira for tax but give us twenty thousand naira or five thousand. If you give him five thousand naira and he will sign for you to go. You did not pay fifty thousand naira, he has kept back five thousand naira and the State suffers. And people will be there asking the government to give us road, give us water, give us electricity etc. Pay your tax because Jesus paid tax, because it is written in the book of Matthew. Jesus shows good example for us to follow.”
He also condemned many abuses of power by those at the helm of the affairs of government, urging them to build a strong process of governance devoid of wastes and corruption.
According to him, “I appeal to all in governance in Enugu State, let us take as a New Year resolution, a stronger, successful and suitable governance style where there must be accountability”.
From the foregoing, it is believed that the New Year prayers portend a sign of good beginning of 2016. It shows that Enugu State is truly in the hands of God. It has also demostrated the governor’s implicit faith and trust in God as the light through which his sound visions, remarkable achievenments recorded last year and other tireless efforts to advance development and alleivate the suffering of people of the state who he had tagged the true hereos of democracy, could be achieved.
The people should therefore, continue to support the governor, and as good citizens, do all they can to see that Enugu State moves forward to the glory of God.
Louis writes from Independence Layout, Enugu.
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