Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has attributed the progress recorded by his administration to divine intervention, expressing gratitude to God, the Church and the people of the state for their continued support.
Governor Otu spoke on Sunday during his 67th birthday thanksgiving service held at the Voice of God Christian Mission Incorporated, Calabar, where he reflected on his administration's journey and called for sustained support to consolidate its achievements.
"I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out today to join me in giving thanks to God. The Bible tells us that ten lepers were healed, but only one returned to give thanks. It is also written that God will never share His glory with anyone," he said, stressing that his administration's achievements were made possible by God's grace.
The Governor acknowledged the challenges encountered since assuming office, noting that the journey had reinforced his faith in God and the importance of perseverance. He maintained that the progress recorded so far was not solely the product of human effort.
"Whatever we have achieved is ultimately by God's intervention and divine grace. God is behind our progress," he declared.
Governor Otu expressed appreciation to his political associates and members of the progressive political family for their support, appealing for sustained backing to enable his administration to consolidate existing gains and accomplish more of its development objectives.
Acknowledging concerns that government interventions were yet to reach everyone, the Governor assured residents that his administration would continue to explore opportunities to extend its programmes and benefits to more people, emphasizing the importance of collective effort in achieving inclusive development.
He also commended the Church for its prayers and spiritual support, and urged the congregation to sustain its intercession, noting that divine guidance remained essential to the government's efforts.
The Governor reserved special appreciation for his wife, Her Excellency, Rev. (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, whom he described as his foremost prayer warrior and intercessor.
"She is my number one prayer warrior and intercessor. She prays for us continually, and I do not take that support for granted," he said, acknowledging her understanding of the demands of public service.
In a sermon titled "Leadership: A Blessing or a Curse," the President of God's Heritage International, His Eminence, Archbishop Josef Bassey, declared that no affliction was beyond God's intervention, urging the congregation to remain hopeful in difficult circumstances.
"No affliction is beyond God's intervention. Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" he proclaimed, drawing his text from 2 Corinthians 7:6 on God's comfort for those who are cast down.
The Archbishop explained that divine comfort could come through different means and encouraged the congregation to live purposeful lives, stressing that everyone had a responsibility to make meaningful contributions to society.
"You are wasting your life if you fail to make it count. Do not take your life for granted," he warned, before praying that the lives of those present would count for good.
Citing examples from world history, Archbishop Bassey referenced Zimbabwe under former President Robert Mugabe and Singapore under former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to illustrate how leadership decisions could determine the fortunes of nations. He emphasized that visionary leadership, discipline and commitment were essential to sustainable development.
The cleric further declared that Cross River State had been favoured by God through Governor Otu's emergence at a critical period in its history, expressing optimism that the state was recovering from economic decline and moving towards renewed prosperity under his leadership.
Daniel Bebia
