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Shun Third-Party Interference In Marriages, 85-Year-Old Engineer Urges Couples
An 85-year-old building engineer, Chief Paulinus Nwafor, has disclosed that couples should avoid bringing in third parties into their marriages, as well as avoid focusing on materialism if they want to live long and stay healthy.
Nwafor said that being alive to witness his children and loved ones coming together to celebrate him and his wife was more significant to them than any other material thing.
The octogenarian disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the celebration of the 45th wedding anniversary between himself and his wife, Lolo Nwafor, over the weekend.
The wedding anniversary, which was organised by their children, took place at Nwafor’s country home in Ezioko village, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, and was presided over by the Bishop of Ekwulobia Catholic Dioceses, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke.
The Bishop of Awka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, a Labour Party chieftain, Valentine Ozigbo, family, friends and other well-wishers graced the occasion.
Recounting the challenges and breakthroughs they went through in their 45-year marriage, especially to train all their children, Nwafor said their staying power was not allowing third parties into their marriage and also avoiding focusing on material things while looking unto God for their supplies.
He said, “We are very excited that our children are celebrating us while we are alive, which they are doing today that is our 45th wedding anniversary. It is better to be celebrated while alive than the fanfare thrown at the demise of someone.
“I am happy seeing people coming together to make merry because of me and my wife and we are witnessing it. Our life wish is being fulfilled today and we are so happy about it. We are blessed with the gift of children and a wonderful community.
“Marriage is a thing of joy as ordained by God. For 45 years now, I and my wife have been living happily together. No marriage is without challenges and despite the challenges, we have always had breakthroughs and our staying power is because we avoided third parties and kept our focus on God for direction.
“My advice to struggling marriages is to be patient; divorce should not be the first option. They should always be prayerful and invest everything they have in giving their children the best training in the ways of God. I appreciate God for the gift of being alive to witness this day and I expressed satisfaction with what God has bestowed on me and my wife, for 45 years.”
In his message, the Bishop of Ekwulobia Catholic Dioceses, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke, identified parental failure, community failure and failure of the Church as the reasons marriages are crashing all over the world today.
Okpalaeke said training of children in the ways of God from infantry to the stage of getting married remains the only solution to curb what he described as a “marriage menace.”
He said, “Marriage should be a thing of joy. To the best of my knowledge, marriages are constantly crashing today because such couples have lost a sense of family.
“The crises you are seeing in marriages today is a reflection of failure; failure of the parents, failure of the community, failure of the Church and other institutions that are supposed to be a nurturing place or ground for those that would eventually get married.
“Institutions have failed. Individuals have lost a sense of family. Many of the crashed marriages today, point to the fact that the couples were not well prepared before entering into marriage life. The family and the Church somehow have failed.
“Good family provide good husband/wife, provide good Reverend Fathers and Sisters.”
Okpalaeke, while admonishing Christians to be followers of Christ, show love of Christ and live a Christ-like life, also harped on the importance of having good intentions which he noted matter a lot to God, reminding the people to always put God first in their daily activities.
Also in his appreciation, one of the sons of the celebrants and a serving Priest at the Ekwulobia Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Emmanuel Nwafor, said the celebration had become an annual routine in their family to celebrate God’s abundant grace and mercies.
He urged the Christian faithful to imbibe the spirit of celebrating their parents while they are still alive, adding that it was their wish to celebrate their parents while alive.
He said, “It is our wish to celebrate our parents while alive. I will never forget their unending support to make sure that all their children become great in life. They are a beacon of faith and testament that serving God is indeed rewarding.”
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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