RSG Promises Bori Cathedral Expansion …As Amaechi Urges Madam Abe’s Immotalisation

Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi says the state government would assist in the expansion of the Anglican Church Cathedral at Bori in fulfillment of his electoral campaign promises earlier in the year. It is also to immortalize the mother of Senator Magnus Abe, Late Mrs Magaret Abe.

Governor Amaechi while speaking at the funeral service of Madam Abe in Bera Town, Gokana Local Government Area last Saturday, observed that the church expansion had become necessary not only to contain its bulging membership but also to woo more Ogoni faithfuls into the Anglican fold. “I will try and do my best to expand the church so that we can get as many Ogoni people into the church,” he said.

He tasked the Abe family to collaborate with the church to ensure that the present structure was rebuilt in memory of their late mother. “When you rebuild the church, please remember Mama because it was in her sake it was done,” he enjoined them.

The governor extolled the virtues of Late Mrs Abe for her immense contribution to the growth of the church, her children and the community, pointing out that the church provided a budding environment for the values the Abe family was known, and urged them to contribute to the upliftment of the church.

Delivering his sermon, representative of the Primate of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Chidi Okparajiaku of the Ohaji/Egbema Diocese, called on the family not to jettison the values of their late mother.

The cleric who spoke on the theme, “There is Time for Everything” said the core duty of man on earth was to serve God and leave good legacies behind.

In his words, “All of us are writing daily our scripts and the scripts we write would be used to judge us and whatever we write would be used on the day of judgement.”

He emphasized the need for people to live aright during their life time since death was for all mortals.

Earlier in his tribute, Head of the Abe family and managing director of Oil and Gas Free Zone, Dr. Noble Abe, expressed appreciation to God for the legacies left by their late mother whom he described as, “an honest and dedicated woman who taught us the values of hard work and commitment.”

Dr Abe noted that even though their mother had no formal education, she was a strict disciplinarian stressing, “I don’t know how to show the kind of love that our mother showed to us … she was a professor of child psychology,” adding, that she was also a loyal wife to their late father.

Also speaking, former secretary to the State Government, Senator Magnus Abe recounted the support of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi during and before the death of their mother, and said, “when my mother was in the hospital, the governor called us every single day.”

The senator who is representing Rivers South-East District averred that the governor, “has honoured mama in a way that nobody could expect,” and also thanked all who came for the burial especially the Chief of Staff of President Jonathan, Mr Mike Ogiadiohme and Senators for giving their mother a befitting honour.