….. Calls On Bayelsans, Well-wishers To Hold On To God
From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Peter Akpe, has urged Nigerians of all walks of life, particularly the political class not to be overambitious and unnecessarily competitive in their quest for leadership positions.
Dr. Akpe gave the advice at a special birthday thanksgiving service held in his honour at the Province 1 headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG Higher Ground Parish, in Yenagoa on Tuesday.
The Deputy Governor, who attended the event in company of his wife, Dr Favour Akpe and other family members, noted that although having ambition is part of human life, excess of it often drive people into actions that are contrary to God’s plans and purposes for them.
Dr Akpe attributed his elevation to the position of Deputy Governor to the outworking of God’s mercy and grace upon his life.
He therefore encouraged those in public service and church leadership, as well as families, to hold on to God, for the Almighty Creator who sees and knows everything to direct their path to greatness.
The Bayelsa Number Two Man pointed out that although the special birthday service had been jointly put together by the church and other well wishers, he had adopted it as his family thanksgiving for his elevation and for every good thing God has done for him in recent times.
His words: “On behalf of my family, I want to appreciate everyone here for your prayers and for your counsels. I just got to know about this program today in the morning, that there is something like this.
“I don’t think that there will be need again to call us together to thank God. I am not sure I will have more than this audience. So this is the thanksgiving for all he had done: for the elevation. God has worked with me in a way that is absolutely marvelous. This Thanksgiving is not an exception; this is our thanksgiving.
“To all of us, I just want to encourage those in governance, the church leadership and families to hold on to God, He will direct your path. Let’s not be overambitious or be engaged in unnecessary competitiveness. If we live our lives that way, even if you get that thing, God may leave you alone to work it.
In his exhortation entitled, “The Weapon of Gratitude”, Pastor Emmanuel Okolo of the RCCG Youth Province 10, Port Harcourt, described gratitude as one of the greatest weapons at the disposal of the children of God.
Preaching from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 17, Verse 11 to 19, Pastor Okolo stressed that God always expects man to give Him thanks, adding that thanksgiving makes healing, deliverance and breakthroughs permanent for those who practice it.
Special prayers were offered at the service for the Deputy Governor and his family by the Senior Pastor in charge of Region 27 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Simon Folasayo.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by Dr Anthony Akpe, Pastor Leonard Ejiegbu, Professor ThankGod Apere, and Dr Jones Ebieri on behalf of the Akpe Family, the Church, the Ebedebiri Community and the Bayelsa State Government respectively at the service.
Earlier in the day, a novelty football match between the Comrades Family and the Disciples of Akpe was organized by friends of the Deputy Governor to mark his 55th Birthday at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Ovom, Yenagoa.
The separate events were attended by several top government functionaries including the Speaker, Chief Abraham Ingobere and members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, former Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi, commissioners, the clergy and parents of the deputy governor, His Royal Highness, Chief Agadabiri Akpe, the Amananaowei of Ebedebiri, and his wife, Mrs. Esther Akpe.
