Umahi, who listed the categories of people to be recognised during the next Independence Day celebration and Ebonyi at 21, thanked the church for supporting his administration through supplications.
He listed those to be recognised on October 1 next year to include the family of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, and Chief Authur Mbanefo. The late Abacha created Ebonyi 21 years ago while Mbanefo headed the committee that recommended its creation.
Umahi said: “Next October, we will be looking at those that made the creation of our dear state possible. These are people like Sani Abacha that God used, Mbanefo, who was the chairman of the committee that recommended the creation of Ebonyi State and some founding fathers of the state.
“So, we will like to recognise them, including the Abacha family. We are also going to honour the founding fathers. We are going to set up a committee to honour them.
“We are going to start this year or early next year, to renovate the palace of Akanu Ibiam, the man who also played a central role in the creation of this state before he died.”
The governor paid glowing tributes to the members of the state Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive Council for their individual and collective sacrifices towards the promotion of good governance and ideal democracy in the state.
He also called on the churches to preach hard work and reiterated that his administrator would soon ask the Legislature to enact a law against idleness.
“Soon we are going to make a law to ensure that nobody is idle in this state because an idle person is the devil’s workshop. If there are idle people in the state, we will have a collection center where they can go and eat free and from there, we will take them to farms,” Umahi said.
In a sermon, the chairman of CAN in the state, Rev. Emmanuel Nshi, identified obedience to God as the antidote to the present social economic and security challenges in the country. He advised Nigerians to seek the face of God and stop blaming one another on the woes facing the country.
Intercessory prayers were offered for the sustenance of peace and good governance in Nigeria.
Prominent people that accompanied Governor Umahi to the thanksgiving service included the first military administrator of the state, Walter Feghabo; Senator Sam Egwu and a former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim.
Umeahi advised the state chapter of CAN to check fake pastors whose activities have continued to constitute a threat to true Christian worship.
•Photo shows late Sani Abacha.
