Akpabio proffers return to God as solution to Nigeria’s maladies

Governor Godswill O. Akpabio has proffered total return to God as an
antidote to the country's many maladies such as kidnapping, robbery
and bombings.

Akpabio who stated this Tuesday during an inter-denominational Solemn
Assembly for the re-dedication of the state to God for 2012 at Ibom
Hall grounds, Uyo recalled that some years ago, there was introduction
of a policy which stopped children from attending church services in
secondary schools in the country.

According to him, the policy did incalculable damage to moral
upbringing of the children as the removal of God from their lives and
discontinuance of Religious Studies in the school syllabus were
replaced with cultism, thus giving rise to kidnapping, robbery and
other social vices.

He opined that loving God wholeheartedly was a solution to a myriad of
challenges facing the country, and expressed the hope that if
Nigerians embrace God, the country would come out from the shackles of
insecurity and unemployment.

Akpabio remarked ''The moment we removed God from the country's
polity, the result was the advent of cultism in the school system
resulting in bombings and mindless killings. Let Nigerians return to
God once again to regain the lost glory. The beginning of solution in
the country is to go back to God. Let's use Akwa Ibom State as example
in returning Nigeria to God''.

''We must accept God into our lives. Men of God must not be despondent
over the affairs of the country. I want to re-assure Nigerians that
what is happening in the country is under control. That is why Akwa
Ibom State is gathered today for a solemn assembly because I know that
the issue of  bombings, unemployment and kidnappings would be ended.
For God is love so no matter your religion, you must turn to God.
Whether you are a moslem or a Christian, you have return to God. If
you kill your neighbour, kidnap your neighbour, and rob your
neighbour, are you serving God? God is saying today that you must
change your ways else the anger of God will consume you all'', Akpabio
said.

''Our different ethnic groups should be our source of strength. We
must recognise that in unity, we can survive. When Lord Lugard
amalgamated the country in 1914, he did not seek the consent of
Nigerians. Let us not look back at the circumstances of how we came to
be. We must allow our diversity to be a source os strength and unity.
Let us support President Jonathan Goodluck to succeed because we
jointly elected him into office'', the Governor stated.

Reminding Akwa  Ibom people on the need to worship God, the Governor
who read from Isaiah 65:17-25 said the state is named after God and
stressed the need as people created by God to praise God since this
was the single purpose of man's existence.

The Secretary to the State Government, Umana Okon Umana recalled that
the state organised the assembly on January 2, last year and handed
over the state over God, saying this was a yearly ritual organised to
thank and hand over the state to God for leadership and direction.

Umana said the people have seen the goodness of the Lord as a result
of the yearly solemn assembly and commended Governor Akpabio as a
visionary and focused leader who has the template for success, good
governance and high performance.

Earlier, the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday O.
Makinde said God was faithful and worthy to be praised and traced the
success of great men in the Bible to their attitude in worshipping and
praising God.

Dr. Makinde who later read from Proverbs 29:2 explained that the
righteous people on the throne provide free education, free medical
services and basic infrastructure, among others for the masses while
the wicked engender unemployment, diseases, poor economy and
illiteracy to impoverish the people.

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