Governor Francis Nwifuru | Photo: Nweze Anaga
. To return mission schools to owners
‘I have always told people that I am not an ordinary person otherwise how can a former bricklayer, conductor, and motorcycle mechanic become governor of your state within a space of 10 years?’
By Nweze Anaga,
Abakaliki
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has called on churches to concentrate on the preaching of the gospel of salvation to draw more souls to God than meddling into politics.
Nwifuru also assured of his readiness to return all mission schools to the original owners to ensure quality education.
Governor Nwifuru gave the advice during the visit of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Most Reverend Peter Nworie Chukwu, to the Government House Chapel, Ochoudo Centenary City on Sunday, while thanking God for seeing him through the election period.
Nwifuru, who was responding to an appeal by the bishop, acknowledged that the Catholic Church was strategic to the attainment of quality teaching and learning in schools in the state, directed the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to immediately commence the process of handover of the affected schools to the missions.
The governor, however, commended the Catholic Bishop for coming to bless the congregation of the Government House Chapel and assured of his readiness to carry along the churches including the Catholic Church in his administration.
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The governor also reminded the churches that their primary duty was to preach salvation to mankind.
Governor Nwifuru also thanked God for being with him always, attributing his humble rise to his believe in God via the church.
His words: “I am not ashamed to identify with the Church because I believe that God Almighty is the owner of the Church. I have always told people that I am not an ordinary person otherwise how can a former bricklayer, conductor, and motorcycle mechanic become governor of your state within a space of 10 years?
“We are very much badly challenged in education and we have agreed in Exco that we are going to send 100 First Class and 2nd Class Upper Graduates to countries of their choice to further their education when they come back they will teach in our schools.
“We will also send 300 persons to do their Masters in any Nigeria Higher Institutions of their choice.
“We have a lot of challenges in the Education sector and as far as I am concerned we are going to get it back by having quality teachers in primary and secondary schools.
“We won’t hesitate, if the Catholic Church is ready to take back their schools we are ready, and not only the Catholic Church, but every other churches, whose schools were taken over.
“I am happy that my Lord Bishop said he is going to support me. If I have physical support and now spiritual support, there is no reason I will not perform; and I am very sure I am going to perform.”
The governor assured that the chapel would not be used to preach politics.
