Ahead of the May 29, 2015 inauguration date, the Archbishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey, has called on the outgoing Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and the Governor-elect, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to reconcile by settling their differences.
Kattey made this call on Sunday while delivering his sermon during a thanksgiving service to mark the beginning of the inauguration programme of the governor-elect and his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt.
Decrying the partisan position taken by some traditional rulers and clerics during the general elections, Kattey urged Amaechi and Wike to begin to see each other as brothers.
“Pastors, men of God and traditional rulers should be non-partisan. They should not take sides in politics. Amaechi and Wike are both Rivers’ persons,” Kattey stressed, even as he urged Wike not to abandon God.
Explaining that the governor-elect should be mindful of the fact that he remained the governor of the state and not of a religion or a political party, Kattey expressed the need for Wike to appreciate God’s faithfulness.
The cleric, whose sermon was themed ‘Praise God,’ said Wike’s emergence as the governor-elect was an indication that it was not the will of God that he (Wike) should lose the governorship poll.
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The archbishop stated that while Amaechi should remain grateful to God for saving him from the PDP, he should also praise God for giving the PDP the victory during the governorship election in the state.
“You are governor to all churches; you are governor to all political parties in the state. You are governor to all, irrespective of political or religious affiliation.
“If God did not want you to be governor of the state, you can’t be. Therefore, hold onto God; I am appealing to you not to abandon God if you must succeed. They must come with all sorts of charm, but hold strong to God.
“Don’t be overconfident and don’t take things for granted. Don’t push God aside; depend on God. But if you hold strongly onto God, you will succeed. All of us have taken you by your words. Be firm. If you say you are not a secret cult member, stand firm,” Kattey added.
In his remark, Wike restated his readiness to rebuild Rivers State, where things would function without hitches immediately he assumed office.
Wike, who spoke through the Chairman of Transition Committee and a former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Austin Opara, stated that the journey to the Government House in Port Harcourt began in 2013.
The governor-elect stressed that his government would ensure that the judiciary and the legislature in the state functioned effectively, adding that the traditional institution would also not be left behind.
PUNCH.
