Fides Media Living the Faith
By Rev Fr Robert Anagboso
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev P. C Ezeokafor has charged the 21 Local Government Transition Committee Chairmen to localize the policies of the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, by bringing development to their respective grassroots. The Bishop gave the address last Sunday, 24 July 2023, at Archbishop A.K Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre,Opkuno in a thanksgiving Mass for the Chairmen who retreated at Golden Tulp Hotel, Agulu to mark their one year in office.
In his homily during the thanksgiving Mass, Bishop Ezeokafor lauded what he called the good initiative demonstrated by the chairmen to gather together and assess their progress after one year. According to the Prelate, ‘Retreat is a normal way of life. Everyone at some point in time has to sit back and reflect on what he or she does in life. Even in businesses, people take stock; if not, they wouldn’t even know if their business is progressing or not.’
Continuing, the Bishop enumerated and lauded what he described as the good, visible work of Governor Soludo, especially on road construction. He then urged the TC Chairmen to emulate the governor and localize his policies.
His words, ‘As the last tier of government, you are nearest to the people. You are at the grassroots. Do things for which History will have good memories of you.
You must have made serious efforts to emerge as the council chairmen of your respective local governments; make the same effort to bring development to your people. This is the way to govern.’
Going further, Bishop Ezeokafor noted the benefits of the flyover project ongoing at Ekwulobia Roundabout and praised the courage of the state governor.
‘Although some people’s structures are affected; yet it is a good thing. We need to have a sane society and environment. People should respect the environment and set up their structures where they will not obstruct the common good,’ he added.
Towards the end of the Mass, the director of the Retreat Centre, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Okoye, welcomed and thanked everyone, especially the TC Chairmen, for what he called their wise decision to close their retreat with a thanksgiving Mass at the Retreat Centre, Okpuno. He urged them to continue in their work which he described further as commendable.
At the invitation of the Bishop to what he called, “Know your TC Chairman”,the TC chairmen, one after the other, introduced themselves and their local governments to the joyful cheers of the congregation.
The occasion attracted a lot of state dignitaries, including the State Governor, Soludo, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, who, on behalf of Governor Soludo, thanked the Bishop for his forthrightness in addressing the importance of good governance, citing the governor’s achievements. He also thanked the chairmen for their retreat and urged them to take to heart, the exhortations of the Bishop, and help to let the strides of Gov Soludo trickle down to NdiAnambra at the lowest level where they served.
He also thanked the congregation and urged them to be in contact with their respective chairmen and report to them any anomaly they encountered daily in their respective environment.
