The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Methodist prelate: Nigeria paying for neglecting youths

    The prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Samuel Kalu Uche has evaluated Nigeria’s profile and returned a dim verdict, saying the country’s failure to properly plan for the youths has exposed it to self-inflicted ruin.

    Using a biblical term, the cleric said the country has sown the wind over the years and was now reaping the whirlwind.

    Uche said that education is the basis for the upgrading the youths and that a country that cannot take care of its youths in terms of giving them sound education is planning towards failure.

    Speaking in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, after his apostolic visit to Umuahia archdiocese, Uche said that any government that has no plans for its youths who are future leaders of the country should be voted out from office.

    Uche who gave a graphic story of a young man who holds a master’s degree in geology said that the young man because he could not get a job in the area he studied had to make do with teaching in a secondary school with a salary of N20,000 per month.

    He said, “If this young man does not have the mind of God in him nothing stops him from carrying arms to rob or commit heinous crimes in the society, there is every need for the government of the day to invest meaningfully on the youths of the country.

    The head of Methodist church in Nigeria explained that the issue of Boko Haram is as a result of neglect of the youths by government, adding that if the needful had been done the dreaded group would not have arisen.

    On the issue of President Muhammadu Buhari refusing to assent to the new electoral bill, Uche said, “I am not familiar with that bill, however the executive should not hold the entire country to ransom as people want a credible election”.

    He continued, “We want a free, fair and credible election devoid of police or any security agency harassment of the electorates, the electoral umpire should be fair to all so that the best candidates would be elected”.

    “I don’t belong to any political party, all I am saying is that what happened in both Ekiti and Osun states should not be allowed to happen again where vote buying was the order of the day during election days”.

    “The two elections in the two states earlier mentioned were a charade people should be allowed to cast their votes and there should be no falsification of votes which is one of the ways of ensuring a united country”.

    “If the President refuses to accent to the bill, the legislative arm of government should over ride him in the proper way which is by voting in their chambers and not by force as what we need is a servant leader not a ruler”.

    Uche lamented the way the leaders of the country have been deliberately impoverishing their people to the extent that, “People do not know their rights again, many people can no longer send their children to school while they (leaders) send their children out of the country to school”.

    He said, “Every bad government should be voted out from office and it should be done through the right way which is the ballot box not by fighting as the country has had enough bloodshed”.

    The Methodist Prelate said that he was worried with the level of infrastructural decay in the state to the level that most of the rural areas he visited had no roads to evacuate their farm produce as most of them are rural farmers.

    He said that the roads to Amaudo Itumbauzo was nothing to write home about including roads to places like, Item and Nkpa communities, “The roads in these areas were so bad that I wondered if they are really part of Abia state”.

    Uche said, “I noticed that the state was so dirty as I saw people dumping refuse along the roads and the refuse collecting agency were not evacuating same which they were supposed to do on daily basis”.

    “I also noticed that many workers and pensioners of the state have not been paid their salary and pensions for several months as reported by our church members, I want to call on the government to do the needful by paying their workers”.

    “What I saw means that either the state or federal governments are not doing what they are supposed to do, however I also noticed that the government has been trying to give the state a facelift in the area of road construction among others”.

    On the issue of unity of the country, he said that the type of unity witnessed during Super Eagles, Super Falcons and any other age grade teams is what we need when ethnicity never existed.

  • NGO backs call to end girl-child abuse

    A non-governmental organisation, The Web has visited Methodist Girls High School, Ugwunchara Umuahia, with a call on the girl-child to speak up when abused.

    The girl-child, unlike her male counterpart, is often the object of domestic violence and inhumane treatment such as rape and sexual abuse in the hands of people who ordinarily should protect her.

    Unfortunately, the law and the  society are not doing much to punish offenders or speak for the vulnerable group.

    Speaking on the essence of the campaign, the leader of the NGO, Norah Okafor regretted that the girl-child has been subjected to all manner of inhuman treatments including being regarded as sex tool and people whose duties are restricted to the kitchen, pointing out that The Web aims at handling cases of abuse by ensuring that every culprit is brought to book and the victim rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.

    Okafor said that the group partners doctors, lawyers and members of the Civil Society Organisations in fighting the growing scourge of girl-child abuse.

    He called on well-meaning individuals to join hands with the NGO in its quest to give the girl-child the protection they need to survive in the society.

    The vision bearer who is also an on-air-presenter with Abia State-based terrestrial cable TV, Modern Communication Limited (MCL), disclosed that the plan is one school, one girl.

    So far, he said, they have cases of abuse they are handling, assuring that the team must put a stop to girl-child abuse.

    Delivering short lectures, some members of the NGO, Joy Ekekwe, Victor Rowland, James Mfreke and Inimfom Ubuoh said abuse could be physical, mental, psychology and sexual and called on the girls to open up when molested, assuring that the group is out to ensure that those who abuse the girl children are not left unpunished.

    In an interview, the Vice Principal, Methodist High School, Ugwunchara, Umuahia, Mrs. Rejoice Ugbo and the school’s Counsellor, Mrs. Chinyere Anyikwa appreciated the team for bringing the programme to their school.

    They said the school has been managing the reported cases in the school and urged parents to continue to relate well with their children with a view to ensuring that the children open up to them at all times, while urging the students to feel free to open up and not to die in silence.

    In a vote of thanks, the Senior Prefect of the school, Miss Chidiebube Chibuike thanked The Web group for taking the campaign against the girl child abuse to their school and assured that they would keep to the pieces of advice given to them.

  • Shelter for the needy in Anambra widows

    Three widows from Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State have been presented with keys to three two-bedroom bungalows by wife of the governor Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano.

    Another two-bedroom bungalow was also donated to an indigent family from Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

    The donations were made under the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) Housing for the Indigent & Widows project of the governor’s wife, with support of the UNDP.

    Presenting the house keys to each beneficiary, Mrs Obiano said the era of people living in dilapidated thatched mud houses was over.

    She restated her commitment to building more houses to improve the living conditions of widows and indigent families.

    She said, “I feel satisfied any time I see each beneficiaries of our modest gesture express happiness after receiving keys to their new houses. I must emphasise that the house belongs to the beneficiary and no one should disturb them.

    “The water borehole component is meant to serve occupants of the house and neighbours are free to fetch from the reticulation point outside and ensure it is well maintained.

    “CAFÉ project has built and donated over 22 houses under its free housing scheme; with the latest executed with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) towards improving human living condition.”

    Expressing appreciation to a businessman in the area, Mr. Tony Ezeani who graciously furnished two of the buildings, the governor’s wife urged others to emulate her to positively touching lives of the less privileged.

    In her brief remark, wife of Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Mrs Oby Okeke commended the governor’s wife’s demonstration of love through CAFÉ projects and urged the host communities to support her efforts.

    In their separate remarks, the transition Committee Chairman of Oyi and Anambra East Local Government Areas, Engr. Nnamdi Nwadogbu, and Chief Pius Ifeadi, expressed satisfaction for Mrs Obiano’s free housing for the widows and the less-privileged, by the Governor’s wife and thanked her for remembering persons.

    Responding, the beneficiaries,  who were randomly selected to ascertain those in dire need of shelter, thanked the benefactor, praying for God’s guidance and sustenance.

  • Land tussle: Developers flee Anambra community amid shootings

    People of Isuaniocha community, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have raised the alarm over a shooting spree in the area following a disputed secondary school land rocking the community.

    They said the ugly development has compelled land developers in the area to abandon several ongoing projects in the community.

    Speaking to newsmen in Isuaniocha, the President General of the community, Mr Tony Onyeagolu, said the crises had retarded the pace of development of the community, calling for immediate intervention of the state government.

    He asked the government to consider setting up an independent body to look into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis.

    According to him, setting up of a neutral body to meet with stakeholders involved would restore lasting peace instead of constituting a caretaker committee with some of the agitated leaders as members.

    “It’s very unfortunate that this crisis has persisted and has slowed down the pace of development because many land developers have, out of fear, been abandoning their projects sited in the community,” he said.

    Onyeagolu accused some stakeholders in the area with vested interests of scuttling the peace process with the help of some non- indigenes of the community, who he alleged, were closer to the government.

    “Despite all efforts made by my executive to get government attention on the disputed Isuaniocha secondary school land through series of letters to relevant authorities, some stakeholders in the community with personal interest to protect kept scuttling the peace process with the assistance of some non-indigenes of the community who are closer to the government,” Onyeagolu decried.

    The PG also alleged that some members of the community have vowed to make his seat ungovernable to pave way for his removal and replacement with a caretaker committee.

    He said, “These people are not just fighting me alone, but the entire community. Their target is to make my seat ungovernable so government will say I have failed and will remove me.

    “The last time government visited the community and left, they beat me up and vandalized my car and bar. I was even arrested and detained.”

  • IPOB: 33 detained traders released in Nnewi

    Nnewi, the industrial city of Anambra State, was agog following the release of 33 traders who were arrested and detained on the presumption that they were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The arrest took place during the recent clash by the group and the police in the town.

    The traders, arrested from different markets in the area and subsequently detained after being paraded by the police, were reportedly released last Saturday after spending eight days in police custody.

    No fewer than 5,000 traders from the major markets in the area converged on the Agboedo motor spare parts Nkwo Nnewi market, where they offered praises to God in appreciation for the release of their members.

    Speaking to The Nation shortly after the event, Chairman of Agboedo Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association (AMSPDA), Chief Gabriel Chibueze, said the gathering was essentially to appreciate God for the unconditional release of their members.

    He said the traders were arrested from the eight major markets in the industrial city, expressing worry over the eight days they spent in police custody, regardless of their innocence.

    He said the detained members could have spent longer time with the police if not for the relentless efforts of members of his executive and other relevant stakeholders.

    He said, “Ever since their detention, the entire executive have not rested and were fighting for their release. We wrote letters to all authorities concerned, including the IGP, the commissioner for Trade and Commerce, our representatives in Abuja, among others.

    “We also had to shut the entire markets in the town for three consecutive days in solidarity with our detained members.”

    Chibueze refuted reports alleging that one of the traders died in police custody, saying all of them were released hale and hearty.

    Also speaking, Vice President, Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (AMATA), Gozie Akudolu, disclosed that no money was paid for their release, though he regretted that some went ahead to engage the services of lawyers contrary to his instructions.

    “I’m happy to announce to you that we didn’t pay any dime for their release because I instructed that no lawyer should be engaged in the process.

    “Those who defied the instructions and paid should find a way of going after their money,” he added.

    He appreciated those who contributed towards ensuring the release of the traders, praying God to reward them abundantly.

    “I’m overwhelmed with joy today. Special thanks go to the IGP, leader of police delegates from Abuja, the state governor and commissioner for Trade and Commerce, state CP, AC Nnewi, and a host of others.”

  • Abia honours Buhari with another chieftaincy title

    In 2014, in Aba, Abia State, then Candidate Muhammadu Buhari was conferred with the Ogbuagu 1 of Igbo land title. Four years later, the President gets another: Ikeogu Ndi Igbo. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    Four years ago a bold monarch in Abia State, the Enyi of Aba, His Imperial Majesty Eze Isaac Ikonne, honoured then Candidate Muhammadu Buhari with a chieftaincy title: Ogbuagu 1 of Igboland. The title literally means the lion killer, a metaphor for a champion, but the gesture was not popular. It was thought that some traditional rulers were opposed to it. The Enyi begged to disagree. Four years down the road, the president has picked up another title in the state, this time in Bende Local Government Area of the state. Over 60 traditional rulers in Isiukwuato/Umunneochi constituency conferred the president with the Ikeogu 1 of Igboland (fighter for Ndi Igbo). Many dignitaries graced the occasion.

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Logo I of Amuda Isuochi, Eze Okechukwu Chukwuji who was at the event to mark the flag-off campaign for the reelection of the All Progressives Congress lawmaker representing Umunneochi/Isiukwuato, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha stated that the traditional rulers’ decision to honour Buhar with a chieftaincy title was based on the good work that the President has done since assuming office in 2015.

    He said, “Our presence here is to show the APC family that we are supporting her. We are going to give you our support. Based on the good job of Mr. President; Muhammadu Buhari, we the committee of traditional rulers in Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency decided that we should honour him because of the great job that he has been doing.

    “In every society, everyone must not agree with you. We honoured him with the traditional title of Ikeogu Ndi Igbo because Mr. President is a brand and we are supporting him.”

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who received the chieftaincy title on behalf of the President thanked the traditional ruler for such an honour

    Ganduje said, “President Buhari loves Nigeria…There is no doubt about it. The president of Nigeria is always telling us that we should take advantage of our diversity. Every ethnic group has its comparative advantages in terms of nature, achievements.

    “Everybody knows that the people of the southeast geopolitical zone are very hardworking people. That is why they are succeeding in cohabiting peacefully with other members of the country. Your people have gone high in terms of entrepreneurship. We should take advantage of that. So, President Buhari is happy with the chieftaincy title and I will convey it to him and we appreciate what you have done.

    “I want to seize this opportunity to thank the paramount ruler and chairman council of chiefs Abia State for giving me the Agu n’eche mba I of Igboland. I was at his palace and I received the title which was in appreciation of the role that I played especially during the quit notice given to Igbos living in Northern Nigeria by the Arewa Youths. There is nothing like non-indigene in Kano State. Everybody is an indigene.

    “We have seen a number of infrastructures created and implemented by the federal government. I think that this is a good development. Mr. President is concerned about your roads, in the southeastern geopolitical zone. That is why he has committed a lot of funds [for them in the budget].

    “And on our way here, we see the road construction that is going on. So we are not surprised, all the states that we have visited, there is political revolution. People are coming into APC. So we believe that this time around, you will be integrated into the national politics. The issue of being onlookers will be a thing of the past.

    “I think that the strong politicians from this zone who are now in APC will make you proud. We know that it is already done. Mr. Buhari is not only looking for 25 percent, he is looking for more than 50 percent of your votes.”

    The Kano governor came in the company of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Southeast National Vice Chairman, Emma Enukwu, former National vice chairman southeast and APC 2015 governorship flag bearer, Chief Nyerere Anyim, APC national woman leader and among other members of the party.

  • NEMA donates relief materials to Enugu windstorm affected community

    The joy of victims of windstorm disaster in Agbogugu community, Awgu council Area of Enugu State, knew no bounds as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) presented them with a lorry-load of relief materials valued at millions of naira.

    The disaster, on April 23, 2018, ravaged residential and commercial buildings in parts of the community.

    Speaking during the presentation and flag-off of the direct distribution to the affected persons held in the community, Director General of NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Maihaja, an engineer, who sympathised with them, said the federal government’s gesture was aimed at cushioning the effect of the natural disaster on them.

    He said, “The violent windstorm that ravaged Agbogugu community, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State on the 23rd of April, 2018 was brought to the attention of NEMA through widespread media reports , Enugu state Emergency management Agency (ESEMA) and phone calls from other well-meaning sons of the land.”

    Maihaja, who was represented at the event by the South- East zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Walson Brandon, disclosed that the agency had earlier carried out a joint assessment to ascertain the level of the disaster in the affected area, on April 25, 2018.

    He added that the team that went for the assessment assignment were made up of its staff from the Southeast zonal office, SEMA, alongside a  member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, who represents the affected community in the lower chamber of the nation’s National Assembly.

    The NEMA boss said, “The assessment conducted revealed that several buildings both residential and commercial had their roofs blown off, economic trees were pulled down, leading to displacement of residents and dislocation of means of livelihood.”

    He said the assessment, equally revealed that most of the affected persons do not have the capacity to rebuild their houses or restart their businesses” thus the submission made to our headquarters for assistance to the affected persons is the course for our gathering here today.

    “The responsiveness of the federal government on the plight of disaster victims has been quite prompt and encouraging, we received approval of relief items in accordance with our mandate and have thus delivered them to the affected communities.”

    The DG, stressed thus” please, note that the relief materials brought to you today is not to replace what you lost during the violent windstorm, but to cushion the effect of the unfortunate incident.”

    He advised people of the community to embrace tree planting around their homes and commercial buildings that would act as wind breakers, just as he asked them to cut down huge tress near residential buildings that have become risks to the people.

    In their separate remarks, president general of the community, Simon Chijioke Udeh, and traditional rulers from the four autonomous communities of the locality, had expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the intervention, saying the gesture has wiped away the tears of the victims.

    Items donated to the victims included 250 bags of rice, 250 bags of garri, beans, maize, cement, roofing sheets, detergents, nylon mats, mosquitoes nets, bathing soaps, clothes, foams, mattresses  blankets, zinc, and nails, among others.

  • 2019: Cleric warns against violence

    The Cathedral Administ-rator of Mater Dei Catholic Church, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, Rev. Fr. David Aguleri has warned politicians in the state against playing bloody politics as the 2019 general election approaches.

    The Nation gathered that following the lifting of the ban on campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the political atmosphere is gradually charging up as political parties begin to woo voters.

    Fr. Aguleri, who is worried about the way the polity is being heated up by politicians, urged every candidate in 2019 to let fair play and the will of God prevail.

    In his homily with the theme “He brings honesty and integrity”, the priest lamented the level of dishonesty among the leaders and the led in the society. He also warned that people who collect money before voting any politician to power do not have the moral right to demand for good governance.

    Speaking to journalists at the end of the service the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Dr. Alex Otti said the theme of his campaign is “Enough is Enough”, noting that the state has gone through a lot of rot over the years especially in the last 16 years.

    Otti said, “It is coincidental that the campaign is being flagged off on a Sunday. As a Christian I can worship anywhere. Today, I have chosen to worship in Catholic Church. My wife is a Catholic, so it is in keeping with the tradition of listening to our wives and that is why I am here at the Catholic Church to worship with them.

    “We are telling Abia people that it is time we end all manner of ills that is going on in the state. We have gone through a lot of rot in this state and this time to bring the change and liberate our people from the bondage the bad leadership.

    “We must do it this time around. Every hand must be on deck because we cannot continue like this. We are the worst state in Nigeria. There is nothing to show for the noise the present government in the state is making on the so-called projects that they have embarked on.

    “Go through Abia, the roads are not [passable] and we have money. So, it is not about money, but because the monies that come to that state are not being used for the purpose that it was intended.

    “My message to Abia people is that we must all rise up and break this chain and say that enough is enough. If you have followed what happened in the last elections, you will know that the process of writing results cannot happen anymore. The issue of securing votes is also a collective responsibility. People are wiser now. What happened in 2015 cannot happen again.

    “They (PDP) used impunity at that time to rig the election because they were at the centre. Thank God that they are not at the centre today, so I believe that it will not happen and people’s votes will be protected. We will do everything possible to ensure that the results that come from the polling units are the results that are declared.

    “I was never afraid and will never be afraid. Our party not being at the centre doesn’t matter. Our party wasn’t at the center when we won in Anambra. Our party wasn’t at the center when a couple of other parties won. What I believe is that with the process that has improved and with everybody’s eyes shining now, I believe that the things that happened in 2015 will not happen again.

    “Abians should be vigilant, they shouldn’t be docile. They all come out and vote and stand there to ensure that votes are counted and results announced because at the end of the day, they will be the ultimate beneficiaries of our government.

    “The government that we have had in the past was for godfathers and godsons. We are coming with a government that will be for the people. So, people should come out and vote massively for us and ensure that voting process in their various polling units is concluded.”Empowered Workshop in Enugu recently.

  • Abia NMA bemoans poor funding of health sector

    The members of the Abia State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have frowned at the poor state of health facilities in the state and poor funding of secondary and tertiary health sector in the state.

    The association made their observations known after their general meeting held in Umuahia, the state capital, saying that there is need for the state government to take urgent steps to improve on the sector.

    The association, in a communique signed by its chairman Dr. Mrs Iwuoha E. C, and secretary Dr. Umenwa Joachin, noted that the state has abundant quality and dedicated manpower to turn around the situation in the health sector.

    They observed with dismay the precarious state of members of the association working at the Hospital Management Board (HMB), and Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH).

    The communique said, “We note with dismay that doctors in ABSUTH are owed arrears of salaries for ten months i.e. February to November, 2018, while doctors in HMB are owed arrears of salaries for eight months and experienced arbitrary slash in their salaries for over 3 months”.

    They disagreed with the Commissioner for Finance, Obinna Oriaku for boldly saying that the state government is not owing workers of ABSUTH workers ten months’ salary.

    The association recalled with pains that the Oriaku had claimed that the government only gives ABSUTH subvention, “Whereas he is aware that the subvention is based on the salary wage-bill of the hospital and has not been paid for 10 months”.

    They noted that ABSUTH has been in existence for over 20 years and has been maintained by successive governments recognizing its indispensability in multi-disciplinary healthcare, health research, undergraduate and postgraduate medical manpower development.

    The association after making their observation advised that Abia State government should as a matter of urgency clear all outstanding salary arrears owed to workers in these institutions before the end of December, 2018.

    They called on the Commissioner of Finance to withdraw his false statement and desist from this deliberate act of misinforming the public thereby adding more pain to the aggrieved workers.

    Their observation reads, “That the association may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector in the state if this untold hardship being inflicted on our members persists”.

    “That all candidates for the various political offices in the state should endeavor to maintain the calm political atmosphere presently existing and make public their agenda for the Health Sector in preparation for the 2019 elections”.

    They used the forum to appreciate all her members especially those whom despite being owed arrears of salaries have continued to give healthcare to the people of Abia State.

    The Abia NMA also recalled that the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in one of his meetings with some aggrieved workers promised to offset the arrears of salary of state workers before December and called on him to keep to his promise.

    They said that December is now with them and they and other workers in the state who are suffering the same fate with them have not seen any alert on their phones, stressing that they should be paid before their die.

  • Church rewards 97-yr-old, ordains 140 pastors

    The Grace of God Mission International has rewarded a 97-year old member in recognition of his immense contributions to the establishment, growth and development of the church.

    A total of 140 pastors who have been in the ministry for over 10 years were also ordained by the church during its convention held in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State.

    The nonagenarian, Elder Osita Nwokeabia, who served the church meritoriously, was presented with cash and other gift items during the convention.

    The Presiding Bishop, Dr Paul Nwachukwu said Nwokeabia was instrumental to the establishment of the church in almost every community in Oji River, Enugu State as well as parts of Ufuma in Anambra State.

    He said the nonagenarian served as an executive council member, Trustee and first auditor of the church for 45 years, deploying his resources for the growth of the church.

    The bishop regretted the activities of fake pastors who entertain audience in the place of preaching message of repentance, warning that the era of occult men occupying leadership positions was over.

    “The time of wickedness is over. God has a special plan and purpose for Nigeria. Christians will soon take centre stage and will be the ones to reshape the nations,” he said.

    Acknowledging the varying degrees of crises prevalent in the nation, which he partly blamed on the leaders, the clergy however expressed optimism that things would not remain the same in the country.

    He said, “That’s why we need to pray to God so that those at the helm of affairs in the state and country will make good decisions for the interest of the citizens.

    “Countries move forward and at some points backward all because of good or bad leadership.”

    Nwachukwu further explained that the convention was to awaken the consciousness of christians of God’s glory and the urgent need to preach the gospel of God’s kingdom.

    Earlier, the church administrator, Elder G.N. Afah, while administering the oath of canonical obedience to the ordained priests, said they were found worthy in learning and character for higher responsibilities in the ministry.

    He described them as dedicated, committed and devoted persons with impeccable records.

    In his remarks, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, urged the newly ordained priests to preach repentance, which he noted was key to bringing the country out of its present challenging state.

    Represented by the Secretary to the state Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Obiano praised Bishop Nwachukwu for insisting on undiluted word of God targeted at repentance, contrary to what was obtainable in some churches that emphasize prosperity.

    Pa Nwokeabia whose wife, Mrs Monica, 85 years old was beaming with smiles for the unexpected glory of God to them, was full of thanks to the church for the honour.