THE CHURCH IS PRAYING FOR IMO STATE AND GOVERNOR UZODIMMA’S RE-ELECTION ON 11 NOVEMBER, 2023

THE CHURCH IS PRAYING FOR IMO STATE AND GOVERNOR UZODIMMA’S RE-ELECTION ON 11 NOVEMBER, 2023

The Church allows politics in which democracy exists to play the dominant role of asserting confidence in leadership. In doing that there is a resonance of multiple acceptances across political and social interests.  And in strengthening social interests human beings must be fulfilled in community and family. This is central and must serve as the pivot of meaningful and acceptable placement in politics.

Democracy has been accepted as the beacon of good governance across the world and must be tabled rightly in sustaining the dignity of humanity.

Pope John Paul 11 described democracy as having three layers: “the participation of citizens in political decision-making; elections and the consequent accountability to the voters and the notion that democracy is more likely to pursue the common good as distinct from the good of the rulers only.” This deduction summarizes the quantum of work, deliberations and  ideas that sum up to the social teachings of the church. The teachings come under human dignity, subsidiarity, common good and solidarity.

In Imo State, with some 85% Christian population, the influence of the Church cannot be put off as inconsequential; it is a critical bearing with huge support base. With a dominant Christian population strength, the people’s choice can be influenced by the voice from the pulpit. This came into historical notice not long ago in this state when commanding infusion of the Church’s influence on the people altered the fulcrum of choice to the shock of the incumbent. It was worrisome and the people asked if the Church, at that time, prayed for the state only and left the man returning with the gavel in the limbo; lessons must have been learnt. And in teaching the right lesson, Blessed Paul VI writes, “if you want peace, work for justice.” And in working for justice, when the Church moderates it as social justice, you must stand at equilibrium with the principles of justice involved and command of good governance.

The Church in Imo State, coming from different denominations are led by men of God who strive and are envisioned to commit trust in God in charting the way of progress for Imo State through prayers.

The relationship between the Church and His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, began with his mother, Ezinne Rose Uzodimma, who built a formidable Christian faith that enveloped him as a son. It was a remarkable semblance to the one that existed between St. Monica and her son, St. Augustine, who walked through a bewildered life to become  a Doctor of the Church and one of the greatest Church writers.

Ezinne Rose Uzodimma placed a request before her son to “build a befitting church for Ozuh, Omuma Catholic faithful during her lifetime.” Following this request, determination drove in with the zeal of fulfillment and bold urge to honour God and honour his mother. This time was far from any thought of becoming the Governor of Imo State, far from the ambition of walking along the corridors of Government House Owerri as an occupant. But unknown to Hope, hope and providence were lurking in latent space, waiting to engage his future. And the work for the fulfillment of his mother’s request began; the foundation laying ceremony for the Church, named after his mother, St. Rose of Lima, was carried out on 11th October, 2013. The construction of the Church was completed in 2019 and the official dedication of the Church took place on Saturday, 30th September, 2023. The Church has been handed over to the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, led by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Tochukwu Ukwuoma. Bishop of Orlu Diocese. At the dedication of the Church, prayers were said for Imo State and re-election of  His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma as  Governor of Imo State.

The bold engagement in building and presenting a Church to the body of Catholic faithful in Imo State carries with it the stamp of grace that conveys the prayers of the faithful to God. The benefactor must have aligned his prayer as promised in the Scripture thus: “I ask you to bless my descendants so that they will continue to enjoy your favor. You, LORD, have blessed them, and your blessing will rest on them forever.”(1 Chronicles 17:27).

The Church agreed and walked with him into his current position as Governor of Imo State. The body of Christians in Imo State under Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is rooted in corporation and commitments to see that Imo State is governed with the fear of God and rightful pursuit of whatever is considered necessary to build and maintain peace and harmony in the state. In moving forward the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday, 13th May  2023, organized Inter-denominational Service for Peace and Unity in Imo State tagged, IMO PRAYS with the Theme: PEACE AND UNITY: BEDROCK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ( Psalm 133: 1-3). The highpoints of the  Service were prayers for Imo State and re-election of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, as Governor of Imo State; endorsement of the Imo Charter of Equity and presentation of same to the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. Notably the binding prayer contained in the Service brochure was taken from 2 Chronicles 7: 15, ” Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attention upon the prayer that is made in this place.”

The Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, sees the Church in their different denominations as partners in progress, who are enjoined to see Imo State as our common home. The Church as a body is a collaborative entity like the government working to build a common front of shared responsibility. We are to contribute energies and time at different levels to secure our common good  because insecurity or any form of disruptive actions serve no good to all in general.

The shared welfare programme of the government extends to upliftment of human spiritual life also. And in strengthening the spirit of Christian religious life and personal moral growth and development, and in supporting Ndi Imo in this spiritual rededication to God, the government of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, sponsored more than 1000 persons from Imo State to pilgrimage at the Holy Land in Israel this year, 2023. The Governor made it clear that majority of the beneficiaries should come from the rural population, as part of his Renewed Hope representation. In this way, the Christian faithful will join pilgrims all over the world to pray for peace in Imo State and Nigeria, and rekindle their hope in understanding what inclusiveness in governance means. In the same spirit, more than 200 Muslims from Imo State were sponsored by the state government to participate in this year, 2023 hajj as part of the shared prosperity engagement. In truth when human mind and spirit is tuned to accommodate peace, the society gains the benefits.

There is a fruitful relationship between the Church and His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, and there are many instances to buttress this fact.

After attending the 3rd session of the 10th Synod Service at St. James Anglican Church, Umueze 1, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, recently the Governor wrote: “I express my gratitude to the Anglican Diocese for their unwavering support and prayers towards my administration. Their spiritual guidance and support have been invaluable in our journey towards progress and development.” And as a Special Guest at the 5th National Mission Congress held at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri recently, he wrote: “I reassured the audience of my administration’s unwavering commitment to continue promoting the body of Christ and to work tirelessly in fostering an environment where faith and governance could walk hand in hand, for the greater good of our people.” In all, truth commands the focus, the Church in Imo State is, indeed, praying for the re-election of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and hoping for better things to come.

 Engr[Chief] Julius O. Dike, KSJI, KSG, JP  is Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo State on Renewable Energy