By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
In the spirit of the New Year celebration, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Uchenna Igwe on Friday feted over 500 widows and numerous others at his Idembia Ishieke country home in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the widows alongside other teeming beneficiaries of the event including the aged men and women, members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), relatives, friends and well-wishers smiled home with assorted gifts; among which were cash, bags of rice, wrappers, buckets, etc.
Speaking during the occasion, Igwe thanked God for using the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to emancipate the state.
He noted that the emergence of Governor Nwifuru during the last election has become an endless celebration in considering his good leadership impacts in capacity building and sundry areas of human endeavours in the state.
The Commissioner described the New Year celebration with the widows, other persons and groups across the state as an advent to his preparedness to complement Governor Nwifuru's People's Charter of Needs agenda for Ebonyi citizens.
He said: "Today, we are starting this new year celebration with Thanksgiving Service to God, and to celebrate with the widows - they are at least 500 in number and they were selected from different wards across the state.
"Our party (APC) executives and some stakeholders from different wards, officials and some members of the Onwa Oferekpe Foundation and FON movement respectively have been captured to be the beneficiaries of this event. We have many phantoms of wrappers, bags of rice, buckets, cash and other assorted gifts for you. All of you will smile home with these gifts."
"We should always be grateful for His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt Hon Builder Francis Nwifuru. He has done a lot to change the ugly narratives heralded in the state. All we have to do is always pray and support our governor to continue his good work in Ebonyi State.
Recall that the event began with mass service and Commissioner Igwe was given Ezi-Ogo Chieftaincy title by his inlaws.
The event was honoured massively including those who belong to the academic, business, political and religion classes from Ebonyi State and beyond.
