The Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion and Diocese of Niger Delta North, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey has prayed for God to grant grace, strength and wisdom to the Rivers State Governor, and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to continually perform and overcome any challenge.
Archbishop Kattey spoke when he led a delegation of Clergymen on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
He lauded the governor for his achievements in the state. “Your Excellency’s administration has made landmark achievements in all sectors of our economy. Rivers State came first in the country in malaria eradication and control. The siting of the biolaviocide production factory by ECOWAS in the state is also a significant milestone. This speaks volume of your government in funding the health sector. We congratulate Your Excellency for making Rivers people proud once again by winning the Vanguard Man of the Year Award for 2012. We are proud of your humble achievements,” Kattey said.
He noted that public office holders were also shepherds of God expected to render good stewardship of men and resources and commended Governor Amaechi for what God has used him to do in Rivers State.
He grieved over the current political situation in the state, lamenting that it could set back the state and appealed for quick resolution. He also expressed worry over political infighting, ethnic and religious conflicts in the country, and appealed for political tolerance.
Kattey informed the governor of his elevation to the position of Dean of the Church of Nigeria which is second to the Primate and of the upcoming Synod in Port Harcourt in May while thanking the governor for his continued support to the church.
“We wish to thank Your Excellency for the various ways God has used you to assist the church in our time. We admire your zeal, courage and commend you; you have often displayed non-denominational approach in your goodwill to the Church of God,” he said.
According to him, “The Diocese exists to fulfill the great commission and the great commission progresses from membership to discipleship, equipping, supporting and sending disciples to make disciples. The only exercise of our vision and mission is to make the diocese grow, making it more fruitful and productive. We want to say with every sense of responsibility that we would not have been where we are today without Your Excellency’s support and encouragement. God bless you. Your Excellency, it is expected to state that the church’s mission demands sustained transformation of society for the good of all.”
Responding, Governor Amaechi thanked the Clergymen for their visit and expressed his administration’s resolve to grow the state economy and complete more projects in the state.
Amaechi said: “We need to be able to grow the economy. We need to be able to say to our people this is a state for which we are proud of. We have numerous projects that we have put in place. Before the end of the year, a lot of projects will be completed that you will see for yourselves. We intend to complete the conference centre that we are building at Chief G. U. Ake road and the Agbani Darego Cultural Centre that is in Town, the new School of Nursing which is at the old UPTH.”
“When you go to the old UPTH, there are three projects going on simultaneously. One is the School of Nursing that now has the capacity to admit 500 nursing students. The one you have in Mile 4 can take only 100 and every day we struggle with approval with the agency that’s supposed to give approval because of poor equipment and poor environmental condition. Now we are building a better one in a better place; Then you have a Primary School that is under construction there; and the Heart Hospital being built by NDDC. That is what we have converted that place to be. You have so many of the fish farms. We have one in Buguma that is nearing completion. You have six of the new secondary schools to be completed by the end of the year. We have completed a lot of the power distribution substations,” Amaechi said.
He appealed to the Church to stand for the truth, saying “As men of God you must stand for the truth and preach the truth. I will be frightened if the Church would not stand by the truth.”
