The governor who was addressing the quarterly general meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Ecumenical Worship Centre, Abuja, urged them to continue to pray for Godly wisdom for those in leadership positions, and for peace in the country, remarking that this would engender enduring development in the country.
He called on the church to see non-cooperation with evil as much a moral obligation as co-operation with good, adding that it should also examine itself as some of its members have placed the pursuit of filthy lucre above the worship of God.
Admitting that he has had challenges in office, he however, thanked God that he has made remarkable strides. He particularly decried the spate of petition writing against his government, but remarked that these will not distract him from pursuing the development of the state relentlessly. His words, “I will never stop serving my people. I know that for each scoundrel, there are a hundred honest persons. For each petition against me by jaundiced, mischievous people, who have given our state the tag of the petition writing capital of the world, there are a hundred outpouring of touching emotions by people who have been touched by our policies.”
Such policies, Akpabio said, are in the areas of free and compulsory education up to secondary school level for all children in the state, without discrimination as to state of origin, massive road construction across the state, free medical care for children under five years of age, etc.