Rivers deputy gov urges chuBy Iyalla Adaye
Port Harcourt
Deputy Governor of Rivers state, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has emphasised the need for the church to play a leading role in shaping the society.
Banigo stated this Friday while delivering a lecture on “The Role of the Church in Government” to mark the 5th Anniversary Enthronement Service of the Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ralph Ebirien, at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt.
She noted that the church had made positive impact in the society in complementing the efforts of government as both were working for the overall interest of mankind.
She sais; “The Church is very important in our society, even when we look at basic social services right from the time of the 19th century, we had the missionaries, they came, developed schools, hospitals and dispensaries. These are basic social services that government is supposed to provide, which they were able to augment.”
She recounted the remarkable strides made by great Church leaders and crusaders like Martin Luther King, John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli and other early protestant reformers which gradually led to positive changes and compelled the government of that period to address issues of welfare of the people.
The deputy governor said it was against “this background that the Governor Nyesom Wike-led government’s Development Blueprint for the New Rivers Vision “places emphasis on wealth creation and job opportunities.”
Banigo urged the Church to partner with government as agent to facilitate grassroots mobilisation and reminded it of the need to always pray for leaders in Authority so that God would bless the people with wise and visionary leaders like Joseph in the Bible.
hes to shape society
