By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
The chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi has applauded the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for their efforts in ensuring the peace and unity of the zone despite security challenges.
Umahi gave the commendation during the inauguration of the newly elected executives of the association held at the Christian Ecumenical Center, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
The Governor appealed the newly inaugurated executives to intervene and interface with IPOB to stop forthwith the ongoing sit-at-home exercise in the region, adding that the sit-at-home will soon cripple businesses and economic development in the zone.
The governor called the leaders of CAN to call youths in their various churches to order as away in seeking solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria as a nation.
He expressed fears that a splinter group may arise within, a situation which according to him, could become threatening to the peace and corporate existence of the zone.
According to him ”: Your eminence, we all came at a time that if we don’t know our God, we would be questioning why he brought us to leadership at a time like this.
“We have passed through recessions; we have passed through terrible oil glut; we have passed through increased Boko haram insurgency; we have passed through unemployment; we have passed through naira devaluation; we have passed through insecurity, and all kinds of things.
“When we look deeper into the word of God, we will realise that these things were predicted; it is a global issue. I appeal that the challenges we are facing is not only because we are not doing our best as leaders.
“The President, the Governors may have done their best with good intentions. We need also to turn attention to the led, to each and everyone of us because most of the problems the leaders face are from the led.
“We listen to God through you. So, when you mount the pulpit, we need to change the narratives; can we integrate the challenges we are facing today in our ecumenism? I continue to challenge that our christian leaders can turn around this country.
“Our faith is being challenged now, and if we shall all come together, according to the word of God…I think we can change the situation.It is beyond we leaders; it is time for God to act.”
Umahi however tasked the members of IPOB to have a rethink, noting that the leaders may not usually be the ones directly affected by the consequences of their actions.
He added:” When you say sit-at-home, the Governors have enough food in their houses. Some of them, their children are outside the country. But I know that if the body of Christ and traditional institutions rise up, they will understand the dangers.
“I fear that a splinter group may rise… So I want the Christian body to let them understand the danger they are getting us into” he stressed.
Earlier in a remark, The National President of CAN, Rev. Sampson Ayokunke, in a homily titled “Engaging the grace of God for impactful leadership”, tasked the new South-East executives of CAN to strive towards leaving a lasting legacy.
He admonished the executives to discharge their functions without fear, adding “God who engaged you to work for him, He is also at work with you.”
Also in his speech, the former Minister of State for power chief Goddy Ogbaga who expressed satisfaction over the success of the inauguration, described it as a welcome development.
While commending the new leadership, the former Minister charged them to remain a good ambassadors of Christ that others would be looking up to. He said their emergence was a clear demonstration of God’s love upon their lives and advised them never to relent in propagating the gospel of God which he said would be anchored on love, peace and unity in the region.
In his acceptance speech the newly inaugurated South east CAN chairman, Rev.Father Abraham Nwali, pledged to consistently work to foster peace and unity in the South East as a way to enhance economic development of the zone.
The cleric congratulated CAN, Governors and other leaders of zone for finding worthy to serve pledged to all humanly possible to justify the confidence reposed on him while calling on youths to seek the face of God at all times and avoid any act capable of bridging peace of the zone.
Collaborating, the newly elected assistant general secretary of the association Reverend Joseph Nwibo who was visibly happy, observed that the body as a mouth peace of God would continue to pray for the zone for peaceful coexistence and overall development.
