The Ebonyi government has said it would actively involve the church in screening appointees in its second tenure, to ensure that cultists are not appointed.
Governor David Umahi made the declaration on Sunday in Abakaliki during the thanksgiving and praise night service held at the ultra-modern ecumenical centre- the inaugural activity at the multi-million naira edifice.
Umahi remarked that the state government had declared a war against cultism as no cult member will ever be appointed into its governance again.
“This is the reason we dissolved almost everything we set-up before as we will collaborate with the church to fight the menace.
“Our next appointment will be predicated on ability/ alternative source of income, screening by security agencies and screening from
the church.
“I will send the list of appointees secretly and they will not know whether they failed due to ability, screening by security agencies or that of the church.
“No gang-up against this resolve will stand and we will find cultists physically and spiritually no matter how politically dependable and
influential they are,” he said.
The governor thanked God for the usage of the ecumenical centre but noted that work will be completed on it by October.
“The edifice will be dedicated by then and all those who ensured its completion will be recognised and committed into God’s hands.
“During the last elections, our opponents said the project was a waste of resources and I was disturbed that if God changes his mind towards
our re-election, the project will be abandoned.
“God however told me he that does not sponsor abandoned projects and the hands that started the edifice will complete it,” he said.
Rev.Fr Abraham Nwali, the Judicial Vicar of the Catholic diocese of Abakaliki in his sermon, noted that the conceptualisation and construction of the edifice was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Nwali, who is the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Umahi’s aide on Religion and Welfare Matters, noted that the edifice symbolises the great temple built for God by King
Solomon, in the bible.
“This edifice will usher a dawn of blessing to Ebonyi people and God will continue showering his blessings on them as is presently being witnessed,” he said.
He urged the governor to be a father to all shades of persons,accommodate political opponents and those who voted against him while ensuring justice for all.
The occasion witnessed a holy mass conducted by the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki diocese, Michael Okoro, praise renditions among other forms of exhortations to God.
