The Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has charged religious leaders in the state to use this period of Easter celebration to pray for a total defeat of the COVID 19 Pandemic ravaging the global village.
Dr Ikpeazu who gave the charge while distributing some palliatives, food items and cash donations to churches for onward delivery to vulnerable groups in their midst as part of Government’s measures to cushion the effects of the lockdown imposed by government on the third phase of distribution held at Government House, Umuahia.
The Governor represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu disclosed that having recognised the hardship occasioned by the lockdown, government decided to ameliorate people’s sufferings by using the Church as a vehicle to get to the most vulnerable groups among them.
He commended Church leaders and other stakeholders for their cooperation so far and called for sustained prayers to uphold the state and nation for an end to the Corona Virus pandemic, as well as wished everyone a happy Easter celebration.
In their response, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Apostle Emmanuel Agomuo, the Zonal Pastor TREM South East zone 2, The Rev. Dr Ugochukwu Orgaly and Rev Dr Monday Agouwa of the ECWA Church who thanked the Abia State for reaching out to the people through the palliatives prayed that the partnership between the Church and Government will be sustained and assured that they will continue to pray for the state to protect Abia from the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Some of the churches that collected their palliatives of bags of rice, beans, tubers of yams, hand sanitizers, face masks and cash donations included the Dominion City Church, ECWA Church, the Cherubim and Seraphim, TREM, and the Salvation Ministry.
The SSG and Chairman COVID 19 Committee, Mr Chris Ezem, the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and other top Government officials were present during the presentation.
Charles reporting from deputy governor’s office.
