We want to rededicate Abia to God: Abia Govt gives reasons for solemn assembly
Abia State Government has explained that its plans to hold a solemn assembly and covenant renewal service on September 24 is
part of activities to dedicate the state to God for His faithfulness.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu announced this on Friday during a joint press conference held with the Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs and Coordinator of the programme, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu at Government House Umuahia.
He said the initiative was borne out of the administration’s belief in seeking God’s guidance and committing the affairs of the state into His hands.
According to him, the state has remained under God’s hand before, during and after the 2023 elections, noting that the administration considers it appropriate to return to God in thanksgiving and prayer as the state approaches another electoral season.
The Commissioner said, “Now that an election is approaching, we believe it’s only fitting to seek God’s face once more and to rededicate this state into God’s hands, to ensure that the peace and prosperity we’ve always enjoyed over these past three years will continue,” Prince Kanu stated.
Also speaking, the coordinator of the solemn assembly and covenant renewal service and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu disclosed that the theme of the event is “Remembering the Covenant,” while the venue is the JAAC Secretariat’s auditorium, Umuahia.
He however, announced that the spiritual activities would begin with a three-day fasting from September 21 to 23, during which churches across the state would observe fasting and prayers in their respective locations.
The Commissioner added that the programme would be followed by thanksgiving services in churches across the state, with faithful of the Seventh -Day Adventist Church (SDA) expected to hold thanksgiving on Saturday, September 26, while other churches would observe their thanksgiving on Sunday, September 27, 2026
He explained that the forthcoming programme is designed to acknowledge God’s faithfulness, offer thanksgiving and seek His continued guidance, peace and prosperity for Abia as the state enters another election season.
Prince Nwachukwu recalled the passed dark years in Abia history, including periods of insecurity, bad governance and underdevelopment, and said that the people had persistently cried out to God for deliverance.
He noted that the prayers and determination of the people eventually culminated in the political change that produced the present administration in 2023, describing the widespread jubilation that followed the declaration of Dr. Alex Otti as Governor in 2023 elections as an expression of the people’s desire for a new direction.
“For all those who have been in Abia, the story of our state is well known to all and the journey thus far, to where we are is known to all too.
“This state is called God’s own state, not by mistake but by divine orchestrations. And God has showed that he is faithful to the cries and to the call of His people. From the time of our creation as a state in 1991, the years following, I want to say that the various leaders had given their best, tried all they could.
“But the state had serious and terrible challenges. It was in this state at one time that it became national news that leaders were put into some kind of shrine for allegiance. And it became a national embarrassment over a state called in the name of God that they are paying allegiance to all sorts of things.
“For all those number of years, there were a lot of things that were not working well. Our state became known for, for bad governance and underdevelopment, if not lack of development at all.
“And so that led to a lot of people showing concern and cries were sent to heaven. People cried, people rode on the streets. I believe that God had those cries and went into the hearts of people. So people had to leave their comfort zones to come out and say, let’s play our part to help our people.
“God heard the prayer. 2015 elections came, went the way it went. We persisted. 2019, we persisted. At the third trial, I believe it was the God of Trinity that showed forth his mighty power at the third time and broke the chain of enslavement,”
“This is the background of this program. That’s why we have christened it a solemn assembly,” Prince Nwachukwu narrated.
According to Prince Nwachukwu, the administration had subsequently declared a seven-day fasting and prayer programme, coordinated by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), which culminated in the rededication of the state at Ngwa High School, Aba in 2023.
Prince Nwachukwu informed that a covenant was entered into with God at the time by the state’s leadership and traditional rulers, with a commitment to serve God and work for the people.
“That same God, we need to go and thank Him for thus far He has led us, our Ebenezer, and renew this covenant and bring ourselves before Him,” Prince Nwachukwu said.
The Commissioner stressed that the solemn assembly would not be an open-field gathering as was the case with the 2023 rededication service, but would involve only invited individuals and groups.
He listed those expected at the solemn assembly to include the Governor and Deputy Governor, the First Lady, elected government officials at the federal, state and local government levels, political appointees, the Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Deputy Directors, HOS of LGAs, Treasurers traditional rulers and
various church leaders, who have all be invited.
Prince Nwachukwu further disclosed that prominent Christian ministers have been invited to lead in the activities of the solemn assembly, including Rev. Dr. Sam Oye, who will minister the Word, and Prophet Isa El-buba, who will lead intercessory prayers for the state.
Also expected at the event according to the Commissioner is Apostle Ofo Nzimiro, a man of God that played a key role in establishing the covenant during the 2023 rededication, while some Archbishops, Bishops and other top Christian leaders in the state would be fully involved in the programme.
Prince Nwachukwu urged the people to see the programme as an opportunity to acknowledge God’s faithfulness and commit the future of the state to Him.
“A man may make his plans, but if God be not with you, you walk in vain,” he said, stressing that the administration believes that human efforts must be accompanied by divine guidance.