Thanksgiving Mass: Onaga Prays for Mbah’s Success, Extols Ugwuanyi
The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga has prayed for the success of the incoming administration of Dr. Peter Mbah in Enugu State.
He also called on God to give him the strength, courage and wisdom to transform and lead the state to the promised land even as he extolled the peaceful virtues embodied by the outgoing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration.
According to a statement yesterday, the bishop, in a thanksgiving/ inauguration celebration at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, tagged “Transition Thanksgiving Mass” organised by the State Government to appreciate God for the successful completion of two terms of eight years of the Ugwuanyi administration and the inauguration of the Mbah administration, prayed for sustained and peaceful transition of government on May 29, 2023.
The clergy who noted that Mbah’s victory at the March 18 governorship election was an act of God already designed for that purpose, called on all residents and citizens in the state to support the new administration in order to bring the much desired positive change that would impact on the lives of the people.
He also stated that the Church was having double celebration because of the Feast of the Holy Spirit popularly called Pentecost Sunday, saying the Cathedral took its name after the feast, while adding that the state had every reason to be grateful to God for the journey so far.
Ugwuanyi and the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Cecilia
Ezeilo were present at the celebration. Also, both the incoming governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, and his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai attended with their spouses, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah and Mrs. Adaeze Ossai, respectively.
In his homily, Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike enjoined Christians and all people around the world to see the Feast of the Holy Spirit and what it represents as an opportunity to unite and live in peace amongst themselves.
While calling on public servants in the country to see themselves as people called to serve and not to enrich themselves with public funds, the Monsignor urged them to shun corruption and prioritise the needs that would advance the common good of the public.
Expressing optimism that the governor-elect would not only transform but also industrialise the state through his robust programmes and policies, the cleric further commended him as a rare technocrat who has cut his teeth in the private sector where his company is presently the dominant player in the oil and gas downstream sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.
While observing the cordial relationship among the three arms of government in the state under the Ugwuanyi administration, Monsignor Ike enjoined Mbah to consider only technocrats and experts in his appointments to fast track the implementation of his agenda for the overall benefit of the state.
According to him, the governor-elect should avoid career politicians with little or nothing to contribute to his programmes as contained in his manifesto.