Cleric urges free hand for governors

The Catholic Diocese of Enugu yesterday commended the immediate past governor of the state, Barrister Sullivan Chime, and Governor Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for the peaceful handover of power at the weekend, urging all political leaders in the state to give the governor a free hand to execute his programmes in advancing development for the people.

The advice was given in the homily delivered by Rev, Fr. (Prof.) Christian Anieke, Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu at the church service which started at 2pm with Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese at the head of the service.

Prominent political leaders of the state present at the mass were Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former governor of old Enugu State and former national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Rev, Ifeanyi Nwoye; Prof. Chinedu Nnebo, and other national and state assembly members. Anieke pointed out that though there had been a smooth transition from the Chime administration to the new Ugwuanyi administration, it was necessary to stress that the new helmsman must be given a free hand to run his government for him to succeed and assuage the burning expectations of Enugu people.

He also called on the governor to set the machineries in motion for effective combating of the criminal elements among the Fulani herdsmen currently unleashing a reign of terror on parts of the state through kidnapping, armed banditry and mindless raping of women.

He urged the government to work with relevant security agencies to fish out the criminals amongst the herdsmen in such a way as to clearly identify those perpetrating the crimes and save the law-abiding ones among them the embarrassment of branding all of them criminal elements. Ugwuanyi and his deputy, Hon. Cecelia Ezeilo was at the church to dedicate their fledgling administration to God before they resume fully in their offices on Monday.

And the cleric commended them for remembering to come and seek the face of God and divine guidance for the new government, declaring that “this government which had decided to begin with showing gratitude to God is destined to succeed. He admonished the governor to strive to live up to the people’s expectations and work hard to leave behind a footprint that would be clearly written in the sands of time.