Date Published: 12/23/09

Benefits of CAN’s Matrimony with Akpabio By Essien Ndueso

The open space of the House of Assembly ground was filled to capacity. There were as many people standing as those who were comfortably seated. It was the coming of men in power led by His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, the Christian community in the state led by Bishop Cletus Bassey and a cross section of Akwa Ibom people both in government, private and public sectors. The date of the event was 22nd November, 2009 and it was a Thanksgiving/Appreciation Service held in honour of Chief Dr Godswill Akpabio by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) the umbrella organization of all Christians in the state 

Since 2007 when Chief Akpabio took over power as the third democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, he has left no one in doubt in his belief in God Almighty. Right from his campaign days, his campaign slogan was “let God’s will be done in Akwa Ibom” which was by itself a prayer to the Almighty God. He identified God as one who can give power to any individual and that he alone can direct the affairs of men here on earth. During the service at the House of Assembly ground, Chief Akpabio had this to say “I became a Governor through prayers and have succeeded so far through prayers.” His dedication to the will of the Almighty is obvious even to the blind because at the beginning of each year, Governor Akpabio leads members of his family, the state executive council and a cross section of Akwa Ibom people to God in a solemn assembly.

At the Assembly ground, a homely delivered by Prelate Emeritus Dr. Sunday Mbang taken from 2nd Chronicle 20:15 charged Governor Akpabio to continue in his trust and faith in God as no man who puts his trust in God ever suffers shame and reproach. God is always there to help and deliver those who trust in Him, No matter the opposition, Greater is he that is with you than the army of opposition, therefore, hold on to God for He will deliver and guide you, the man of God re-assured.

The Christian community is perhaps the one that has benefited most from the government of Chief Akpabio. At inception, Governor Akpabio gave a grant of N100,000,000 (one million naira) revolving loan to the Christian Association of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom and today as noted by the CAN chairman, Bishop Cletus Bassey “ many families today are glad to earn a living on this account.” At the appreciation Service, Governor Akpabio made a donation of N50, 000,000 (fifty million naira) to the building of a befitting state secretariat to the state chapter of CAN. This is besides the several cash donations he personally donates to churches to boost the service of God. According to the Governor, who gives the resources, and who makes possible the oil wells? It is God and so we must give back to God through donations to churches.

To have a Governor in their midst on that faithful Sunday afternoon in November, the Christian community were privileged to have a God fearing political leader in their midst to appreciate him for his wonderful deeds for the people of the state. In his address at the occasion, Bishop Cletus Bassey, chairman Akwa Ibom State CAN, took time to appreciate the Governor in his effort so far in rebuilding the  broken down infrastructure in the state, free and compulsory education  and free medical services to children under the age of five, pregnant women and elderly in our society. These, Bishop Bassey explained were feats only that a man under the direction of God can offer to his people.

The value of education and health care could best be captured in the activities of the missionaries who brought with them western education and medical care during their missionary journey into the heart of Africa. Evidence today is in the Methodist boys’ high school Oron, Etinan Institute Etinan, Holy Child Girls Secondary School, Ifuho, and many other ones scattered across the state. There are also the QIC Leprosy Hospital Ekpene Obom, Methodist Hospital, Ituk Mbang, St Luke’s Hospital, Anua, among other health institutions across the state which were established by the missionaries all in a bid to bring development and civilization to the people of Akwa Ibom.

And so for Governor Akpabio to identify these areas and accord priority attention to them, the church today being an off shoot of the missionaries’ activities of the 19 th and 20 th centuries had to appreciate him, the cleric said. The government of Chief Godswill Akpabio has embarked on massive renovation of schools blocks across the state which has been in dilapidated state for the past decades.

When kings work in line with the wise counsel of the priests, the people rejoice. All through the scriptures, when kings worked in council of God delivered by a priest, resounding victories were recorded and the people rejoiced in the power of their God. This position was corroborated by the national secretariat of CAN who in a Goodwill Message made an allusion to the biblical book of 2nd Kings 12:2, where King Joash and the Priest Jehoiada worked together and the successful reforms that were recorded during his reign remain incomparable in the history of Israel. He commended the good working relationship between the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Christian Association of Nigeria in the state and called for the sustenance of such relationship for the overall benefit of the people.

November 22, will certainly remain one day to remember in the history of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in Akwa Ibom State. It was the day the state Chief Executive honoured the church community with his presence and specially a day when the church officially renewed her matrimony with government. The benefit of this matrimony will be the sustenance of good policies that will be of continuous immense benefits to the people of the state.

 Essien Ndueso

Uyo, Akwa Ibom State