By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
Following the rising security challenges bedevilling some parts of Ebonyi State, the first lady of the State Chief (Mrs) Rachel Umahi has organized a power packed prayer submit to forestall the massacre of innocent citizens of the State, South East and the Country at large.
The prayer was organized at the Christian Ecumenical center Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
In her remarks, Chief Umahi said the prayer was to hold across all the States in the Country to seek the face of God in the rising killings, kidnapping, armed robbery among other social vices ravaging the Country as directed by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Her Excellency Aisha Halilu Buhari to curb the ugly menace.
The Governor’s wife who is an advocate of peace, observed that peace is paramount in humans life and panacea for development, stressing the need for everyone to embrace the prayer to promote peace and unity of the Country.
She congratulated wife of the president for the initiative, describing it as the best option towards winning the war against insecurity in the Country and called on the leaders, youths among others to be vanguard of peace for Nation building.
In his speech, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State Engr. David Umahi thanked President Buhari’s wife for taking such bold step through out Nigeria.
Governor Umahi who said the Country was badly confronted security wise, hinted that citizens of the Country (Nigeria) need to return back to God to guarantee safety of lives and properties.
He called on the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and traditional rulers to rise to their responsibilities by reaching God in prayers for his intervention into the situation.
He noted that churches should rediscover their roles in the Nation building and warned those who are hellbent in instigating crisis and blame it on leaders to desist from it or face the wraths of God.
Umahi seized the opportunity and said that South East must not be schemed out on the affairs of the Country (Nigeria).
According to him:” what is good for other regions in the Country is good for South East, it doesn’t matter whom God enthrones, let the region be properly integrated in the affairs of the Nation because they are Nation builders and i maintain my his stand of Unity and peace of Nigeria”
He reiterated his resolve to clampdown killer agitators of any guise in South East, adding that the region can’t go back into second slavery.
Umahi further noted that the agitators should rather come for dialogue than killing innocent souls and expressed his administration readiness to empower any repented killer and also set to doles out two million cash reward to anyone who disclose information that lead to the arrest of the killers in the South East zone.
However, the South East Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Reverend Fr. Abraham Nwali called people of the region and Nigeria in general to embark on aggressive prayer and fasting for entrenchment of peace and development of the Country.
The clergy also called on youths to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in their own interest while saying that social media should be regulated to checkmate the activities of fake news peddlers.
Meanwhile, a minute silent was observed in honour of the massacred innocent souls.
The prayer drew the presence of top government functionaries among others.
