The Methodist Church Prelate, His Eminence Dr Oliver Aba, has described the security and infrastructure development in Enugu State under Gov Peter Mbah as a model of good governance in a democratic system.
The commendation came during an awards ceremony and thanksgiving service marking the 50th anniversary of the Enugu Methodist Archdiocese on Sunday.
Aba said the state’s advanced security system was impressive, noting that the technology ensured effective monitoring.
“I went to the Command and Control Center at the Government House and from there, I watched almost every part of Enugu State within minutes including the Archbishop’s house in Enugu. The International Conference Center where we held our colloquium is another example of good governance. The ICC is a masterpiece,” he said.
He urged other state governments to emulate Mbah’s leadership style, which had brought notable changes within two years in office.
In his sermon, themed He will Rise Again, Aba encouraged Nigerians to be patient with God and abandon evil practices, stressing that the country would rise again.
He congratulated Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary of the Police Service Commission, and Chief Nana Ogbodo, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, on their investiture as Knights of John Wesley (KJW), acknowledging their contributions to the church.
In his remarks, Gov Mbah commended the Methodist Church for tackling cultism and ritual practices among youths in the South East, which he said were alien to Igbo culture.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai, the governor emphasised that the state government required collaboration to eliminate crime, noting that modern security strategies had already been deployed.
He also praised the church’s commitment to education, highlighting that Igbo development owed much to strong educational foundations.
“All the industries we see in the South East is the function of the foundation of education,” he said.
Mbah assured the church of continued government support, especially in education-related initiatives.
Earlier, Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, Most Rev. Christopher Edeh, expressed gratitude for the prelate’s apostolic visit and reaffirmed the archdiocese’s campaign against cultism known as Okeite, as well as its focus on evangelism.
Nnamani and Ogbodo, the new knights, pledged to use their titles to serve God and humanity.
The event also featured the launch of a book titled History and Development of Methodism in Enugu Diocese/Archdiocese: 1975–2025 compiled by Dr Phillemon Agu.
(NAN)