Bishop David Oyedepo, the General Overseer of Living Faith Church also
known as Winners Chapel is expected as a Guest preacher in this year’s
Akwa Ibom Government Christmas Carol Night that features 9,999 choristers
from the 31 local government areas of the state as well as national and
international music stars.
Bishop Oyedepo who dropped this hint at a breakfast meeting with Governor
Godswill O. Akpabio at Governor’s Lodge, Uyo responded to an earlier
invitation the Governor extended to him.
This year’s carol night is slated for Saturday, December 21 and will hold
at Uyo Township Stadium. Governor Akpabio is expected to officially flag
off the event.
Meanwhile, a cross section of prominent Akwa Ibom people have lent their
voices to the continued hosting of the yearly event. Speaking with
correspondents in Uyo, Bishop Cletus Bassey, Chairman of Christian
Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom Chapter who described 9,999 a a divine
arrangement by God to showcase a people who has always known how to praise
Him, noted that sometimes people don’t understand how much our people
before today used to praise God, saying that God has used 9,999 to
showcase that attitude, a nature that Akwa Ibom people had imbibed within
the culture and in our expression of love for God.
Bassey posited that 9,999 has come to stay because it is something that
broken the world record as per the number of people coming together at one
place at one time to worship God, recalling that in other parts of the
world, people have carnival and all kinds of thing are being displayed but
the Governor came and decided to take a detour from the traditional way of
doing Christmas to when God is being put at the centre of the year.
Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia, Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Akwa
Ibom Chapter speaking the significance of event remarked that given the
number of people who are exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ last year,
the number of people that made up decision to commit their lives to
Christ, a lot more can be measured, a lot more can be rated in terms of
policy and impact.
The man of God opined the event should be continued after Akpabio
administration, explaining that it is an avenue for us to preach the
gospel and adding what the Bible says, ‘What will you gain if you gain the
whole world and lose your soul’. Whatever brings spiritual enlightenment,
whatever brings people from darkness into light, we need to pursue all
along”.
Dr. Anthonia M. Essien, Head of Department of Religious and Cultural
Studies, University of Uyo described it as wonderful and a worthwhile
venture having such a a large number sing praises to God, recalling that
the first time she watched, she was thrilled and thanking God for Governor
Akpabio for such a good sight of getting us to sing praises to God. I
Dr. Essien who is also Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion in the
university congratulated Governor Akpabio on his foresightedness in
bringing about the programme and called for sustenance of the event by
successive administrations in the state, inviting people from other States
to join in heralding the event because praises could move mountains and
barriers.
Dr. Johnson Akpakpan, a lecturer in the Department of Music, University of
Uyo described the programme as a great innovation and a good feat by the
people of Akwa Ibom State to initiate in the comity of States in Nigeria,
saying from the music perspective, it is not quite different even though
100 people sing together, but when 9,999 people sing together in one
singular performance, the result is that the intensity of sound will be
quite different from having 200 or 500 people singing together.
Dr. Akpakpan called on the organizers of the programme to plan it early
enough and ensure that the choristers receive adequate training to
fine-tune their skill in singing.
Director of Protocol to the Governor, Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang hinted that
his team has raised a 200-man band Ibom Choral and Orchestra comprising a
100-man classical mass choir, a 50-man Orchestra choir, 35 singers, 10
instrumentalists and 10 lead singers as well as Akwa Ibom Voices to sing
as ensemble comprising Aity Dennis Inyang, Pastor Goody Goody, Folake
Umosen, Linda Etukudoh, Fadabasi, Freke Umoh and Nathaniel Bassey. Others
are AKSG Choir and Unity Brass Band.
Also expected include national and international music stars such as
Israel Houghton, a US internationally recognised worship leader, recording
artiste, song writer, producer and a five-time Grammy Award winner and
Lionel Peterson, a world renowned South African Gospel legend famous for
mega gospel hits will sing at the event.
Others are Sinach, an international worship leader of Pastor Chris
Oyakhilome’s Believers Love-World Incorporated, also known as Christ
Embassy International, notable for over 200 songs; Frank Edwards, a
Nigerian exceptional, versatile and multiple award-winning gospel rock
artiste and one of the music ambassadors of Christ Embassy International
Church as well as National Choir of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
and Guest appearance from West Indies.