GOV PETER OBI RECEIVE CANON AWARD AND BISHOP COMMENDATION

Governor Peter Obi has received the Fellowship Award of the Canon Law Society of Nigeria. He was the first to receive such honour since the Society was established. The award was conferred on the Governor during the 2012 Annual National Conference of the Society at the Spiritual Year and Retreat Pastorate Centre Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local government Area.

The National President of the Society, Reverend Father Jonas Benson Okoye said the award was an acknowledgement of Governor Obi's bold efforts in reinventing the path to functional growth in the polity. Rev. Father Okoye recalled that the Governor had not only redressed the wrongs and injuries inflicted by forceful take- over of schools by government in 1970, but had also continued to provide funds to rebuild the dilapidated structures and had equally expressed confidence in the Church to assist in salvaging the education sector.

The Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke in his message said the honour was remarkable and well deserved as Governor Obi had corrected the anomalies of his predecessors by returning Mission Schools to the Churches and had been funding the rebuilding process.

In his speech, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Reverend Hilary Paul Odili Okeke, extolled Governor Obi's unusual commitment to changing the culture of governance in Nigeria and his zeal to do the right thing to serve the common good.

Most Reverend Hilary Okeke observed that the Governor has continued to identify with the church and the people and recalled his support to earthquake victims in far away Haiti and flood victims in Nigeria.

In his message the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, said Obi had demonstrated consistency in uplifting the integrity of the human person and building quality human resources.

The member representing Ekwusigo in theState House of Assembly, Mr. Paulinus Onyeka said the award was a testimony of the high esteem in which the Society holds Governor Obi.

An APGA chieftain, Chuma Okolo, noted that the award was a confirmation of the national impact and appreciation of basic principle of good governance entrenched by Governor Obi

Responding, Governor Obi, while thanking the Society for the honour, assured it will motivate and spur him to do more as well as support the growth of the Society.