2023 ELECTIONS: GOV EMMANUEL ADVISES CHURCHES AGAINST DERAILING FROM CARDINAL ROLE
As the build up to the 2023 General Elections intensifies, Governor Udom Emmanuel has called for prayers for a peaceful transition and enthronement of a succeeding leadership that will sustain the trend of God’s blessings in Akwa Ibom State.
The Governor, speaking during a Sunday worship service at God’s House of Refuge, Uyo, thanked the Church for their sincere support and prayers for the state government and called for more of such prayers as the transition season draws closer.
These, he acknowledged, have accounted for his administration’s success, stressing that it was God’s command for the Church to acknowledge the Government as an institution of God and to uphold people in authority by their prayers.
He said, “today was not an outing, I just came here to worship and I needed where I can hear the word of God without political sentiments, because now people have left what they should teach to use the pulpit to predict 2023.
“What God has called us to do is to pray for leaders and I believe the church here does what God has asked us to do. It is not easy to lead, especially when you want to render selfless service”
According to the Governor, anxiety in times of transition of government has always been and is expected but expressed confidence that God always has a way of choosing according to his purpose and furnishing his chosen with what is required to fulfill the purpose, irrespective of man’s spelt out credentials.
“This is a critical year. We need more prayers for peaceful transition; prayers for God to open the eyes of people to know that who God want may not be who man wants.
“Right from the days of King David, see 1st Kings, when it is time to handover, there will always be noise and some kind of commotion, even David’s children rose against him, but that didn’t change the will of God and I want to assure you such will not change the will of God especially for this state.
“So I pray that God will help us and we also need a lot of prayers from the church”
He however assured that despite the hassles and noise in the political atmosphere, his government will continue undistracted and undeterred in working for the people of the state in line with the mandate and trust of the people.
“I want to reassure you that we came to serve and we’re serving with all amount of sincerity and selflessness to the best of our ability and what God wants us to do
In his sermon series on “Making the Best of 2022”, the Senior Pastor of God’s House of Refuge, Ezekiel Atang, dwelled on the subhead, “Go for the Blessing”, culled from Genesis 14:18-23.
The man of God stressed that getting God’s blessing outweighs material riches, as riches could just be an aspect of what the blessing conveys, coupled with the peace, favour and general wellness it offers.
He therefore outlined obedience to God, honour to parents, donating to the poor and God’s priests as ways to attract the blessing.
Media Unit
Govt House, Uyo
30/01/22
