Otti Hails St. John’s Anglican Church, Olokoro, at Centenary Celebration.

Otti Hails St. John’s Anglican Church, Olokoro, at Centenary Celebration.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has congratulated the congregation of St. John’s Anglican Church, Itaja/Amuzu Parish, Olokoro West Archdeaconry, on the occasion of the church’s 100th anniversary and the dedication of its new church auditorium and vicarage.

Otti, who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, at the centenary thanksgiving, dedication of the church building and vicarage, and service of confirmation and admission, described the milestone as a testament to the faith, sacrifices, unity and perseverance of generations of worshippers.

The Governor said the contributions of the founding members, many of whom had passed on, continued to bear fruit through the enduring legacy of the church.

He urged the congregation to deploy the newly dedicated auditorium and parish facilities towards advancing the gospel, winning souls, transforming lives and providing spiritual strength and comfort to members and the wider community.

Otti also underscored the role of faith-based institutions in societal development, noting that churches contribute significantly to the promotion of morality, peace, education and community development.

He assured faith-based organisations and other stakeholders of the continued partnership of his administration in its efforts to build a peaceful, prosperous and united Abia State.

The Governor commended the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, the clergy, church leadership, parishioners and families for their sacrifices and contributions to the growth of the church.

He prayed for greater spiritual growth and impact for the church as it commenced another century of service.
Otti also urged the people to sustain their support for his administration and participate actively in elections by obtaining and using their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He said the achievements recorded by his administration were made possible through the support of the people, stressing that voters had the responsibility to determine the leadership of the state and country through their votes.

The Governor further solicited support for Labour Party candidates in the forthcoming elections, including the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, whom he urged the people to return to the House of Representatives.

He maintained that sustained economic prosperity remained essential for the growth of the church and society, assuring that his administration would continue to consolidate its achievements.

In his homily, the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, charged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith and committed to the service of God, assuring that genuine labour in the Lord is never wasted.

Speaking on the theme, “Your Labour Is Not in Vain,” drawn from 1 Corinthians 15:58, the Bishop expressed concern over what he described as a growing tendency among younger generations to question the need to serve God, obey His word and live righteous lives.

He said the development underscored the responsibility of parents and older Christians to provide younger generations with strong foundations of faith.

According to him, the biblical injunction in 1 Corinthians 15:58 calls believers to remain steadfast, immovable and always committed to the work of the Lord, assuring that their sacrifices, acts of love, obedience and service would have eternal value.

Ibeabuchi urged Christians not to allow cultural pressures, doubts and societal changes to weaken their faith, but to remain firmly rooted in their relationship with God.

He stressed that building churches, making donations, rendering services or occupying leadership positions in the church could not replace a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Bishop therefore called on Christians to repent, embrace genuine faith and ensure that their service to God flows from a sincere relationship with Him.
He also appreciated past generations of members who sacrificed their resources, time and efforts towards the development of the church, saying their contributions made the present achievement possible.

Also speaking the Director-General of Olokoro for Otti, Dr. Grant Nnamdi Atuma, said the group identified with the church because of its contributions to development, character building, spiritual upliftment and community advancement.

Atuma said the centenary celebration went beyond marking 100 years, describing it as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of generations of Christians to the spiritual and socio-cultural development of Olokoro.

He assured that Olokoro for Otti remained committed to supporting initiatives that promote development and advancement in the community.

The celebration also featured the confirmation of members and admission of new members into the Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild, Girls’ Guild, Christian Men’s Fellowship and Anglican Youth Fellowship.

Among those present were the Member Representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia Federal Constituency, Rt hon. Obi Aguocha, Deputy Speaker and member representing Umuahia state Constituency, Rt. Hon. Augustine Okezie Meregini; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole; Member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon. Emeka Jacob Obioma; Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Sir Ken Nwosu; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike; Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu; Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (Rtd.); Mayor of Umuahia North LGA, Mr. Smart Ihuoma; Deputy Mayor of Umuahia South LGA, Barr. Enyinnaya Nwosu; Commissioner for Works, Engr. Don Otumchere Oti; Special Adviser on Energy, Engr. Kachy Etolue; Member representing Aba Central State Constituency, Hon. Ucheonye Stephen, alongside other government officials, Labour Party faithful, traditional rulers and clergymen.

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