Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
As a way of expressing his appreciation to God and to his constituents for electing him, the member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Sir Dom Okafor, last Sunday, July 30, held a massively attended Thanksgiving Mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Igboukwu.
Speaking during the homily, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia, Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, said the event presented an opportunity for the faithful to reflect on their lives and on their relationship with one another. He urged the faithful to disabuse their minds of the notion that only good people went to church.
‘Let’s use this opportunity to close ranks and bring development to the people so that posterity will remember you,’Okpaleke admonished.
Speaking after the Mass, the celebrant, Sir Dom Okafor, thanked all those who honoured his invitation and thanked them for voting for him, which he described as a mark of great trust. He assured his constituents that they would not regret voting for him, even as he promised the governor, whom he praised for doing very well, not to let him down.
In his speech, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, welcomed the guests to his constituency and appealed to litigants to simmer down and withdraw their cases as God had chosen Okafor.
Speaking on the traditional institution, he said anyone not certified as a traditional ruler by his government who answered such would go to jail along with those addressing him as such. He said this in reference to the Igwe-elect of Igboukwu whom he however assured that he would be given a certificate of recognition.
Soludo went ahead to list some of his challenges and achievements since assuming office over one year ago and called on the people of the state to reciprocate by performing their civic duty of paying taxes.
The event was attended by many dignitaries, including traditional rulers, two bishops of the Anglican Communion who were represented, members of the Anambra State House of Assembly, and politicians, among whom were a former chairman of Aguata Local Government, Chief Titus Anigbogu, and Chief Chris Uba.
Fides reports that even before his inauguration, Hon Okafor had hit the ground running by empowering youths and responding to the needs of his constituents.