…Flags off distribution of rice for South East CAN
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has flagged-off the distribution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Christmas gift of rice to the five South Eastern States as part of the President’s palliative measures to alleviate the suffering of the people.
He did on Tuesday at the Secretariat of Imo State Christian Association Nigeria (CAN), Owerri where he admonished the Church leaders who came to take delivery of the gift to constantly uphold the government of President Tinubu in their prayers.
The Governor thanked God for his mercies that made it possible for the people to overcome the challenges of 2023, noting that 2024 will be a lot more better for all.
The Governor who thanked the men of God for finding time to be part of the event reminded them that on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu introduced some reforms meant to recover our economy and reduce hardship in the country, strengthen the Naira, grow our economy, create jobs for the unemployed and generally make Nigeria great again.
He said though some of those policies came with initial pains, like the high cost of items in the market and generally, high cost of living in Nigeria, “but the policies are meant to address these pains.”
Governor Uzodimma recalled that towards the end of last year, the federal and state governments distributed palliative materials in Imo State, doing their best to send the materials to the nooks and crannies of the State and conscious of the fact that South East is predominantly Christians.
“80% of people living in the South East are Christians”, he noted adding that the Christmas celebration is taken as a very serious festival.
The Governor who expressed the President’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the people, emphasized the significance of providing relief and other support to citizens, particularly during the festive season.
He said that the trucks loads of rice they came to flag off the distribution neither came from the State nor Federal Government, rather a personal donation from President Tinubu to the Christians as gifts to the South East.
The Governor said that he decided to involve Imo State CAN to ensure seamless distribution since all Christians in the zone are under the umbrella of CAN.
However, he said that the Imo State Government will support CAN with the logistics to convey the truck loads of rice to all the South East States of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and even Imo State.
The Governor then urged the Christian Communities in the South Eastern States to fervently pray for President Tinubu’s administration to do better having laid the foundation for a prosperous country with the ambitious 2024 budget already signed into law by the President.
“Never in the history of Nigeria has anybody released such huge sum of money as an annual budget.”
In his welcome address, Reverend Dr. Eches Divine Eches, the CAN Chairman of Imo State, lauded Governor Uzodimma’s efforts in ensuring that the welfare of the people is taken care of, describing him as “a caring and lover of God and mankind, promoting the interests of the Igbo people on the national stage.”
Additionally, Reverend Eches echoed the sentiments expressed by Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), in his New year message, and further commended Governor Uzodimma’s commitment to uplifting the Christian community within Imo State.
In appreciation of what the Governor has been doing for the people and the Church, the five CAN Chairmen of the South East States presented him with a gift of African Study Bible.
Deputy Governor of Imo State Prof Placid Njoku and the Deputy Governor-elect Lady Chinyere Ekomaru and other top government officials joined the Governor at the flag off ceremony.