The Sunday before the 26th of December of every year when the Ogbakor Etche holds its annual Convention has been declared as Etche Thanksgiving Day.
President General of Ogbakor Etche, Charles Nwonuola made this known while speaking Sunday, at a thanksgiving organized by members of the socio-cultural group at the St Mathias Cathedral, Okomoko – Egwi.
Nwonuola said the Etche nation is grateful to God for His guidance and blessing.
He noted that the Etche people will henceforth honour the day of thanksgiving in remembrance of the Lord’s kindness and mercy.
Delivering a sermon, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese, Bishop Okey Nwala stressed the need for greater collaboration and unity among the Etche people.
He said Etche has not done well in acknowledging its shining lights who laboured in the past to change the fortunes of the ethnic nation.
Bishop Nwala specifically mentioned the contributions of Chief J. H. E Nwuke to the development of Etche, saying recent research has shown he was in the forefront of several efforts to place the Etche nation on the map.
He observed that the future of the Etche nation is bright and urged the Etche people at home and abroad to turn to God in order to fast track the pace of development in their land.
Saying there was a strong link between Wike’s elevation to the governorship seat by God and the future of the Etche nation, he said the Governor is proving it by his disposition towards the progress of Etche.
Bishop Nwala spoke strongly against illegal bunkering, saying the lives of Rivers people and their contemporaries in the Niger Delta region were in great danger.
The Man of God noted that the level of environmental degradation, reflected by the overbearing presence of the black soot is a major source of concern and urged government to do something about the escalation of the situation.
He said some security operatives and top government functionaries were acting in cohort with those who are dealing in illegal bunkering.
According to him, government officials and security agents cannot pretend not to know what is going on.
He appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike to intervene on the side of the people in a bid to prevent a calamity that is waiting to happen.