The Christian Association of Nigeria, Bonny Chapter, last Saturday, November 24, 2012, hosted her 7th edition of Bonny annual national prayers, with the theme: “WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE”.
The occasion, which took place at the Church of God Mission hall, Bonny headquarters of the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, as the initial venue of the event, was disrupted by rain.
In his address, the chairman of CAN, Rev. Amb. Kuro Tamunonye B. B. (JP) thanked all those who participated in the annual national prayers.
He noted that the 7th edition of Bonny annual national prayers was in conjunction with the Bonny local government council, the Amanyanabo in-council, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bonny chapter.
CAN chairman lauded the Bonny council boss, Hon. (Barr) Edward E. Pepple for his immense support to the programme. He commended the council chairman and his team for the infrastructural development, capacity building and empowerment to our people in the area.
Kurotamunonye used the opportunity to appeal to the council boss to remind His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi about the communiqué reached at a special stakeholders forum on Tuesday January 10, 2012 at the marriage registry, Bonny, on removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government and which the state government directed that stakeholders should come up with palliative measures to cushion the effect in the various local government areas.
The chairman outlined the resolution of the stakeholders meeting as thus:- the government should provide luxurious cargo and passenger boats immediately to deliver services at controlled prices.
That government should also provide buses and taxis for land transportation services within the local government area at government controlled prices.
That urgent steps should be taken to build cattage industries like a domestic gas dispensing plant and fish canning industry to stimulate the local economy and create employment. That the state government should provide interest free loans to support private marine and land transportation to provide better and affordable services.
Farmers and fishermen should be urgently supported to go into commercial scale training and deep sea fishing.
That government should expand her free health care services to accommodate more people.
The chairman stressed the need for the NNPC mega flowing station at local beach to be more operational while the federal government should build a land mega station for effective distribution of the product on land.
Calling for the urgent completion of the Bomu/Bonny road, the CAN chairman noted that Bonny waterfront jetty, Port Harcourt, is simply a death trap, confirming that he had written a letter through Sokonte Davies to His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for necessary actions.
In his remarks, the chairman Bonny Council of Chiefs, Chief Lt. Col. A. O. Manilla Pepple, who was ably represented by the Amanyanabo in Council, King Edward A. W. D. Pepple, read the address.
The chief charged CAN to see their function as to imperative in the island. He emphasised the need for Christians live in unity in Bonny to help them achieve their aims in the area, saying that the traditional institution promise to support the progress of CAN.
In a chat with our reporter at the arena, the Publicity Committee Chairman, Pastor Angelia Peter lauded all those who attended the prayer summit. He suggested that by next year, churches should summit their quota earlier so as to facilitate early arrangements.
Pastor Peter lauded Bonny council boss and the Amanyanabo in council.
In his view, the CAN secretary, Pastor Ambrose Nwodiora commended the effort of the CAN chairman in Bonny for his effective coordination. He urged all the executive to always work as a team, while charging all churches in the area to come together in the spirit of oneness “as we are working in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
By Christopher David Hart
