WARRI (Delta) – The immediate past governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has urged people in the state to support the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration.
Uduaghan made the appeal weekend at the thanksgiving service held in his honour at the First Baptist Church in Warri, Delta state.
He said the success of the governor was the success of the state, and urged them to give the governor their full loyalty.
‘’There are a lot of challenges out there so it required a collective responsiblity, his success is our success as a state.
‘’My prayer is that what is coming ahead of us should be better than what we have seen.
‘’’’We shall continue to offer prayers, counselling and advice to Governor Okowa to enable him to succeed in the next eight years,’’ he said.
Uduaghan, who read his text from Exodus 8: 16-19, also urged the people to beware of rumour mongers which he said were fast increasing by the day.
He thanked the people of Delta, especially the spiritual fathers and traditional rulers, for their support and wisdom.
‘’For the past 16 years, I have been in the government of the Delta, so I have every reason to appreciate God.’’
Also speaking, Okowa said his administration would forever remember Uduaghan for the good legacy he left behind in the state.
‘’Uduaghan took the state closer to God and Delta will forever be for the Lord, it is an established precedent in the state.
‘’I will change the slogan of the state from Big Heart to Finger of God because the more we get closer to God, the more we distinguish ourselves as people and state.
‘’Every May 29 will be observed as praise day unto the Lord in the state because without God, we cannot get democracy,’’ he said.
Governor. Okowa urged the people of Delta, especially the spiritual fathers, to pray for his administration and not to shy away.
He also promised to partner the traditional rulers whom he said were closer to the grassroot.
Rev. Sola Ademola, the Secretary, First Baptist Convention, in his sermon, urged Uduaghan to always give thanks to God.
He also advised him not to behave like other elder statesmen who believed the country was under their control.
‘’You have done so well for this country, but don’t join the league of those who think that the country was inside their pockets.
‘’Ignore those who will envy you and move ahead with your life and keep celebrating the goodness of God in the land of the living.
‘’Congratulations for finishing the race so well,’’ he said.
Members of the First Baptist Church, Warri thanked the governor for giving them a missionary school as well as sponsoring some of their members on pilgrimage to Israel.
The church presented two Sunday School manuals to the governor and his wife, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, in appreciation.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Warri South Local Government Area also gave Uduaghan an award of excellence.