Kogi Deputy Governor urges Christians to pray for progress, development
By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, Dec. 22, 2019 The Kogi Deputy Governor, Chief Edward David Onoja, has urged Christians to continually pray for the progress, peace and development of the state and Nigeria in general.
Onoja made the call at the Thanksgiving Service of the Immediate Past Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya at Zion Cathedral Provincial Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lokoja.
Onoja urged the Church to continue to offer prayers for the Government and the Gov. Yahaya Bello, for grace and enablement to improve and make life better for the people of Kogi, saying the essence of governance was to add value to lives.
”We will continue to put God first in all that we do; we will continue to serve humanity, and Kogi will continue to get better for it,” he said.
The deputy governor described Osikoya as one of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s finest commissioner in the outgone cabinet, and commended her for excellent performance.
In his short exhortation, titled: ”Where Are The Rest Nine?, the pastor-in-charge of Kogi Region 24, Pastor Francis Oluwalade, enjoined Christians to always thank God for whatever He had done for them, saying ”a heart of gratitude will always receive more”.
Taken his lesson from the Bible in the book of Luke 17: 11-19, the cleric said: ”we should thank God for everything; we should learn how to come back to God and to say thank you. In everything, give thanks”.
He commended the Governor for building a Christian chapel at the Government House, saying, ”I see greater prosperity for Kogi”.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Folashade Ayoade, rejoiced with the celebrant commended her excellent performance and for coming back to give thanks to God.
”It is a wonderful thing to give thanks to God; some people would be in Government and lose their lives or that of their family member, but we want to appreciate God on behalf of our former commissioner for coming back to God to say thank you for what God has done in her life.
”It is a thing of joy; we are encouraged to always give thanks to God in all things; so, as politician, we need go back to God to say thank you,” Ayoade said.
In her remark, the celebrant former commissioner, said she has come to thank God for 46 months of Impactful public service from March 2016 to December 2019.
She commended Gov. Yahaya Bello, for given her the opportunity to serve the state in that capacity, while appreciating the deputy governor for given her a fair opportunity to serve the people of Kogi
She stressed the need to give thanks to God for all He had done in her life and that of her family, saying she would forever be grateful to God.
She expressed gratitude to the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enock Adeboye, Regional and Parish Pastors, and all other men of God for their prayers and advise
The former commissioner further thanked all the managements and staff of the state Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, and that of Education, Science and Technology, for all their cooperation and support.
”Thanking God should be a lifestyle because if you appreciate God, you will fear God and be thankful to Him. So, today is just an expression of thanksgiving to God.
”I am particularly thankful to God because it is not a right but a privilege to serve; so I am grateful.
”I just want thank God for the lives we were able to touch because a political office is an opportunity to serve and change the life of the people for good.
”So, I thank God because we have been able to change peoples lives for better.
”Let us fear God, and let our fear for God show in the love we have for the people,” Osikoya said
In his vote of thanks, the husband of the celebrant Arch. Olushola Osikoya, expressed gratitude to God, the governor and his deputy, including all those who assisted his wife in the cause of her service to the state.
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