GOV OBI DINE WITH LEPERS
Governor Peter Obi said that Democracy Day should ideally be used to reflect of the real meaning of democracy as ask ourselves if democracy is beneficial to all the people in the country, including the rich, the poor, the sick and the underprivileged. Governor Obi who was speaking when he visited and interacted with inmates of Oji-River Leprosy Centre.
Obi said he visited the centre on the invitation of the Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Oji-River Diocese, Most Reverend Amos Mmadu, especially on the realization that the inhabitants of the centre cut across the States of the South-East, especially Anambra State (Ayamelum and Anambra West Local Government Areas). This was confirmed by the census of the centre taken by the Governor.
Governor assured the Oji-River Anglican Diocese of continuous support to care for the inmate and made a donation of one million naira to the church and five thousand naira each to all the inmates and promise that the issue of their welfare will be discussed by Governors of the South-East to explore possible ways of partnering with the Church to collectively uplift the centre.
The Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Oji-River Diocese, Most Reverend Amos Mmadu, who conducted the Governor around the Centre recalled that the Governor is the first State Executive to visit the centre and noted that Governor Obi has continued to demonstrate fear of God and commitment to the welfare of the people which he said other Governors should emulate.
Most Reverend Mmadu said they would attract intervention of the International organizations including the United Nations and UNICEF to the centre if the facility is returned to the care of the Church.
In their separate speeches some of the inmates, Mr. Cletus Onah from Nsukka and Mr. Sylvanus Amaefuna from Adazi-Nnukwu while thanking the Governor for his kind gesture, noted that God is using him to touch the lives of the common man and give everybody a sense of belonging. They noted that he has transformed the State and rebuild all schools in the State with service of fairness and equity.