In the spirit of Easter celebration, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor, on Saturday, distributed some food items, clothing’s and cash gifts to over 500 less privileged in the society.
Ezeokafor, who performed the function at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, said it was a monthly routine in the Diocese but this particular edition termed, “Easter celebration with the poor”, was geared towards enabling the sick and the poor from across religious and cultural background to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ like their counterparts.
“Today is Holy Saturday. We are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know there are lot of people who are sick and those without basic necessity of life. They depend on us. We usually pray God to help improve the situation of our country to reduce their sufferings.
“Every month, we provide them with food items, clothing and cash to enable them carter for their basic needs. But this particular one is specially called Easter celebration with the poor. This has nothing to do with religious or ethnic sentiments,” he said, adding that religious denominations was of no consequence in charity works.
He reiterated his calls for reduction in the cost of governance in the country, which according to him would help to entrench good governance, speed up development including institution of welfare package for the disadvantaged.
The prelate said: “I believe that this country is endowed with both human and natural resources. But our problem in the country is corruption and mismanagement. I have said it time without number that the cost of running government in this country is too much. Our government should seriously take care of the poor masses. They should do something, otherwise they are failing. And if they are failing as regards these people, I wonder what they will tell God in Heaven.”
Speaking to Blueprint, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Nneka Ezeme, prayed God to keep and provide for the prelate to sustain the scheme, and also keep him for about 130 years of age.
