– Accepts his people’s gift as Uzodimma’s re-election
By Nduka Odinaka
It was a gathering of who is who in Imo state yesterday, Sunday,24th September, 2023, at the birthday celebration of sir Jude Ejiogu which was held in his Emekuku Country home.
The activity commenced at about 9.30a.m with a mass celebration held at the Immaculatea Conception Catholic Church, Nkwo Emeke, Owerri North Local Government Area, where the parish priest, Rev. Fr. John Anyaegbunam and the officiating priest, Monsignor Kelvin Ugoamadi, took charge.
The Monsignor advised people to always be committed and generous to the work of God in order to receive his blessings as generated from the Ist Reading–Isaiah 55: 6-9.
He described Sir Ejiogu as a very good friend of him who has continued to serve God with his wealth and position in life, stressing that the good values planted in Sir Jude Ejiogu by the Seminary institutions he attended did not depart from him. The Monsignor described Sir Ejiogu as a loving fellow who is genuinely willing to help any person in need at all times, praying God to continue to bless him in his 60th birthday.
The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Anyaegbunam, on his part , thanked the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and other government officials who attended the mass to contribute towards the completion of their new parish building for the worship of God.
He equally described the governor as a committed Catholic who chose to create a Ministry of Religious Affairs in the state which differentiates him from the former administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha that created Ministry of Happiness and purpose Fulfilment, advising him to consolidate on that.
He also commended the governor for his numerous achievements in various areas, appealing to him to give attention to the welfare of Imo civil servants and pensioners.
Reacting to the appeal of the parish priest in respect to the payment of workers’ salaries, the governor attributed the delay of some civil servants receiving their salaries to the automated discovery of some discrepancies emanating from their deliberate committed financial fraud , stressing that many civil servants in the state have vowed not to change from their known criminal activities against the government, with a view to duping her. He stated that some civil servants involved in the act have not deemed it necessary to apologize to the government for their criminal activities, rather they have resulted to blackmailing the government for withholding their salaries over time, affirming that their required prosecution ought to have been carried out by the government, but because of the intervention of some religious leaders and many well meaning stakeholders in the state, the government has soft pedalled in her action.
Uzodimma asserted that he has about 955 persons in his list of those with one fraudulent activity or the other, adding that they should better ask for forgiveness within a week or risk their names being published.
He also asked those with a genuine case to come forward for immediate solution.
He frowned at a situation where some individuals could be defrauding government by receiving double salaries without any remorse over a period of 10-15 years now, through one form of financial manipulation or the other.
He conclusively donated the some of #30m for the completion of church buildit project. He described Sir Jude Ejiogu as very reliable and wished him well in his 60th Birthday.
In his own contribution, the Chancellor of Imo College of Education, Ihitte- Uboma, HRM Eze Oliver Ohanweh, described Sir Jude as a very trusted and tested Owerri ally who has helped his people in many areas of human endeavor and wished him success in his celebrated birthday.
Sir Jude Ejiogu’s birthday celebration mass was attended by some important dignitaries that include the state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, Barr. Ngozi Anyaehie(Chief of Staff), Senator Osita Izunaso(representing Orlu Zone),
Mrs.Ruby Emele,.Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, Hon. Chike Okeafor and a host of others.