Priest pushes Enugu Assembly on anti-grazing law
The Enugu State House of Assembly has been tasked to use the 2018 legislative period to make, among others, anti-grazing law that will guard against the destruction of farmlands by cattle and invasion of any part of the state by herdsmen. A Roman Catholic Priest who is also a lecturer in the Department of Religion […]
The Enugu State House of Assembly has been tasked to use the 2018 legislative period to make, among others, anti-grazing law that will guard against the destruction of farmlands by cattle and invasion of any part of the state by herdsmen.
A Roman Catholic Priest who is also a lecturer in the Department of Religion at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Rev Fr. Emeka Ngwoke gave the task while preaching a sermon during the “Cross-Over Night” organized by the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at his country home in Orba, Udenu Local Government Area of the state.
The cross-over night which began around some minutes after 8pm (Sunday) and lasted till about 1.09am (Monday) was an occasion for prayer and thanksgiving during which the government and people of Enugu State re-dedicate themselves and the state to God for his blessings in the passing year as well as hopes and great expectations that will come with the New Year.
The first edition was held at the same venue last year and it’s in line with the slogan “Enugu State is in the hands of God,” which the used in ending his public speeches.
At the event believed to have provided a period of ‘spiritual rebirth’ for the people, were the host, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, former governor of Enugu State, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Chukwuka Utazi who represents Enugu North Senatorial District in the Senate, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Deputy Governor of the state, Lady Cecilia Ezeilo, Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi, Attorney General of the State, Mellitus Eze, and a host of other key government functionaries.
Rev Fr. Ngwoke recalled that 2017 was a challenging year in terms of insecurity and economic hardship, he, however, tasked the Enugu state House of Assembly to make 2018 a year with a difference in terms of making laws that would protect the citizens from the herdsmen.
He praised the southeast governors for the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the stopping of its activities, arguing that Igbo land could be used as experiment in bloodshed after what happened in the civil war.
“I thank the southeast governors for standing up against that ill-digested agitation. We need a larger place to co-exist peacefully with our neighbours,” he said.
Saying that it took ‘Operation Python Dance’ of the Nigerian Army to call the IPOB members “back from their illusions.”
He further said: “Please, our political leaders, do not, for God’s sake, be a leader of your section of the states but let your hearts embrace all of us,” and thanked governor Ugwuanyi “for destroying politics of exclusion in our state.”
Meanwhile Ugwuanyi, in a New Year message, promised to sustain the tempo of peace and good governance in the state to improve the living standard of the people as the true heroes of democracy.
The governor reiterated that “Enugu State is in the hands of God”, stressing that, “in all we do, we give God due glory, honour and adoration”. He prayed that the state will continue to grow from strength to strength.