Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has said that the state will not relapse into occultism and oath taking but continue to make giant strides in all sphere of human life under his watch.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service to mark the 27th anniversary creation of Abia state at St Stephens Anglican Cathedral Church, Umuahia, governor Ikpeazu said that though the journey to statehood still remain far but that the state has made appreciable progress in every aspects of life.
He enumerated the enormous grace the state has enjoyed and said that this account for why the state remains one of the most peaceful in the country and escaped the devastating infection of Ebola and monkey pox.
He stated that the christened of Abia as God’s own state was not a mistake but a covenant with God which must be kept.
The state governor however deployed the acts of idolatry and oath taking that crept into past governance of the state and stressed that Abians must live with the punishment of deviation from godly path and pleads for forgiveness from God.
Dr Ikpeazu extolled the former governor, Sen T. A Orji and other well meaning Abians for liberating Abia from the clutches of occultism and idolatry and challenged the people to resolved not to go back to such detestable way of life that annoyed God.
He commended the contributions of the state founding fathers for their sacrifice that saw the creation of the state.
In his speech, the Archbishop, Aba Ecclesiastical Province and Anglican Bishop of Umuahia, Most Rev Ugochukwu Ezeoke extolled the governor for his heartwarming achievements stating that the governor deserved all the support to continue the good works.
Earlier in his sermon, Ven. Geoffrey Ibeabuchi charged Abia leaders to remember that the State was christened Gods’ own State, hence they should lead by example, become advocates of righteousness and do good for all men.
The man of God who entitled his message “I know the plan I have for you” and his text from Jeremiah 29:11-12, likened the situation in Abia to that of Israelites in those days and stressed the need for all to jettison idolatry and all sorts of sins to enable the State move forward.
He appreciated the efforts of the founding fathers in the creation of the state and urged the led to support their leaders, pray for them and avoid destructive criticism.
