Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said that with absolute trust in God and faith in the risen Jesus Christ, Christians and indeed Imo people will overcome the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statewide broadcast to Imo people on Saturday, Governor Uzodimma also assured that with strict adherence to safety measures, the state will overcome the COVID 19, with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The governor, in the emotion laden Easter message, urged them to bear the hardships induced by the need to prevent COVID 19 pandemic with the same uncommon patience and perseverance that Christ bore his passion and tribulations before his crucifixion, noting that “Christ’s resurrection is a sign of assurance that after the Coronavirus pandemic will come the joy of triumph.”.
The governor said it was painful to him as a Christian that he would not be attending the Easter service in the congregation of the faithful but added that it was a necessary sacrifice he had to make to avoid encouraging a public gathering that could provide space for the virus to strike Imo people.
He therefore urged all Imo Christians to join in the sacrifice and worship on Easter day through Online and Electronic channels.
Uzodimma lamented: “As a Christian I feel pained that I will not be able to celebrate Easter church service in a congregation. But I also understand that it is a sacrifice I must make to prevent COVID 19 from having a veritable space to strike in our state. Let us all bear this painful sacrifice together as one people with one motive; to save ourselves and our children from the COVID 19 pandemic.”
He urged the people to use the auspicious occasion of Easter to pray fervently to God for an end to the Coronavirus pandemic.
He assured the people that he was mindful of the hardship the measures his administration has put in place to prevent and control the Coronavirus but insisted that they were inevitable sacrifices that must be made to stay alive and healthy.
The governor then called on all true lovers of the state and Imo people to jettison partisan politics and join hands in the fight against COVID- 19 to save lives.
Governor Uzodimma pledged that before the end of Saturday, delivery of foodstuffs of rice, yam, indomie, tomatoes, groundnut oil and other food condiments would have been taken to every community in the state to make Easter merrier for the people as part of government’s efforts to alleviate their hardships.
But he also used the opportunity to remind them to remain safely conscious by regularly washing their hands in running water, continue to avoid crowds, observe social distancing, sanitize their hands regularly and refrain from shaking other peoples’ hands.
Ending on a note of confidence, the governor declared: “My beloved people of Imo state, do not be afraid. Be firm. Be vigilant. Be safety conscious. Be confident. But above all, trust God. We shall overcome COVID 19 to the glory of God.”