God Helps Me Through Life’s Hurdles, Wike Confesses

The Rivers State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike has confessed that it is only the Almighty God that has helped him scale through the hurdles of life.
Wike stated this during the dedication service of his father’s church, the Christian Universal Church Cathedral, in Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the governor said he had always remembered the Church of Christ, stressing that for the first time, the body of Christ came together at his election in 2015, through prayers.
Wike, who said he was pained by the unfortunate attack on the Christian Universal Church, last year, expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for the completion and dedication of the church.
According to the governor, “In this house, souls shall be won, lives will be delivered, the oppressed will be set free, the sick will be healed, backsliders will return, and God will show mercy to His people and the church”.
He urged Christians to be united in order to fulfil the purpose of God, adding that “Christians must engineer forgiveness amongst us because the beginning of love is forgiveness”.
Speaking on the theme, “The Church That Will Last”, the General Overseer of Salvation Ministries International, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, who dedicated the cathedral, said Christ was the head of the church, noting that any church that was not built on Christ, would not last.
Quoting from Matthew 16:18, which says, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”, Ibiyeomie disclosed that Jesus Christ was the Master Builder, who was eternally the Master of the church and the Saviour of the world, adding that the life and existence of the church was rooted in Christ.
He said, “We dedicate Sanctuaries where we worship but the Church of Jesus Christ is the people, not the building”, stressing that a building without people was not a church.
Ibiyeomie, who said love was what propels people to work in the kingdom of God and cures the ups and downs in life, disclosed that love was a covenant qualifier.
In his remarks, the General Overseer of Christian Universal Church, Rev Jonathan Nlemaya Enyindah Wike, who expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for making the dedication of the church cathedral a reality, said they had planned to dedicate the cathedral last year when the enemies struck and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) with the aim of destroying lives and property, but by the Grace of God, only the building was partially affected.
The cleric, who expressed gratitude to the State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike, for his intervention which made the dream a reality, also thanked Niger Delta bishops, Ikwerre bishops, the Christian Association off Nigeria (CAN), the Inspector General of Police and many others who sympathized with the church at that trying period.
The epoch-making event was graced by dignitaries who include the wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Hon Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani; Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr. Emeka Woke; Head of Service, Barrister Rufus Godwins; the clergy and other dignitaries.
Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of awards to the general overseer of the Christian Universal Church, the state governor, choir ministration as well as special dedication thanksgiving.