GOODWILL MESSAGE BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO OF KOGI STATE REPRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, EDWARD DAVID ONOJA, THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE, AT THE MAIDEN KOGI STATE CHRISTMAS CAROL (AND FIRST Ever) SERVICE AT THE CHAPEL OF PEACE AND UNITY, KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE ON SATURDAY, 21ST DECEMBER, 2019.
Protocols
It is with overwhelming joy and a deep sense of satisfaction that I welcome everyone here tonight. I am glad to see you.
We are grateful to God Almighty for His Gift of Jesus Christ which is the reason for the Christmas Season and we thank Him for His Help and Presence which we have been celebrating tonight.
When we did the groundbreaking ceremony for this lovely edifice on 22 July, 2019 (just 5 months ago) we promised to finish the work in December. Thank God for His help, it is not only finished, but in use.
I thank the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kogi State and at the national level for standing solidly with us in the actualisation of this project. It is my prayer that God will bless CAN and continue to increase her capacity to positively influence good governance, peace and righteousness in Nigeria.
The builders have done a great job in giving us a compact but beautiful house. To the architects, engineers and workers whose labour went into this House, thank you and God bless you.
In particular, let me appreciate the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Edward David Onoja who bore a sacrificial burden to see this work completed on time. He gave his all. May the God Whose House it is bestow special blessings on him for his Labour of Love.
Our first term is rapidly coming to an end. My wisdom is not perfect and I am only human, but I can say with all good conscience that I tried my best to set Kogi State on the path to accelerated and sustainable development in the period of about 4 years we have been in office. “Remember Me, O My God, for Good.” Nehemiah 5:19.
Last month, our people asked me to man the helm of affairs in the state for another 4 years commencing January 27, 2020. I will again bring the best of my abilities to the job, however, I humbly solicit prayers, intercession and support from the Christian community and indeed the entire people of Kogi State.
The significance of this Chapel does not only lie in its purpose as a place of worship for Christians. It is above all a symbol of the unity, access, welcome and inclusion which my Administration has worked to guarantee all Kogites in our public institutions. We promise to deepen these virtues in our second term until Kogites will be known as Kogites first, before tribe or tongue or social class come to mind.
Once again, I welcome us to this first ever service in this beautiful edifice. It is also double honours for us as tonight is a Christmas Carol Service in honour of the Birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, the One Who made the ultimate sacrifice to save mankind. May the Almighty God give everyone who came a double portion of His blessings.
May the Blessings of Christ’s Birth and the Benefits of His Death and Resurrection fill our lives and families and towns and states and nation, now and always.
May the Almighty God bless this Chapel and may He hear His people when they pray unto Him from within it and answer their prayers.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year in advance!
To God be the Glory!
YAHAYA BELLO
Governor of Kogi State
21 December, 2019.
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