The one day choral festival organized by the Gokana local government council in collaboration with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Gokana branch, held in the council Hall on Monday, January 2, 2012, ended with glamour as Christians sang praises to God Almighty for protecting them to the new year.
Speaking at the occasion, the LGA chairman, Demua Ledee Demua thanked God for restoring peace to Gokana, hence the festival could hold.
He explained that when he took over the government in Gokana with pockets of crises, some people were hiding inside bush, but that the case is different now.
“In those days,” he said, “B Dere was fighting with Biara, Nwebiara against Barako and K. Dere versus B. Dere, among others.”
Demua said his most happiest day in life was when on January 1st 2012 he met former two warring communities of Barako and Nwebiara dancing and praising God just along the same road where they were fighting.
Speaking to the press, Deemua expressed his satisfaction at the choristers performance in the festival, saying that the occasion would be continued as often as possible. He however expressed displeasure that they did not sing in Gokana language, adding that one cardinal point of his administration was to hold programmes that would benefit the people.
In his remark, the chairman of the occasion, Bishop Solomon S. Gberegbara, lauded the organizers of the festival for bringing the people together to praise God and asked them to continue in the good work and that God would reward them.
In the same vein, the chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Fremaso John told the press that the purpose for the festival was to keep Christians in Gokana occupied with God’s kingdom business and to keep progressing the gospel in the area as well as reviving the spirit of believers, adding that the festival which has started would continue and thanked the LGA chairman, for making the dream a success.
Highlights of the day were singing competition, sword drill and bible citation. ###
Mene Gbarabe
