As Christians mark this year’s Easter celebration, Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State has urged Ebonyians to use the occasion to embrace peace and show love to one another.

In the Easter Message obtained by 9news Nigeria, Governor Umahi said this year’s Easter celebration is coming at the time “we are faced with the daunting challenges of finding amicable solutions to the intractable crises between Effium and Ezza Effium, Abaomege and Ishinkwo, Enyigba and Enyibichiri and other pockets of hostilities in parts of the State including the recent massacre of our brothers of Egedegede in Ishielu Local Government Area by marauding herders.”

He, however, urged Ebonyians to stand firm in the belief that this trial of their faith, though it is tried with the fire of hostilities, shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at this season of God’s love.

Governor Umahi further revealed that the death of any Ebonyian diminishes me. And that is why his government is fighting the hostilities with all the wisdom of God in them. He said “We trust God, that at the end of the day as our Lord Jesus is rising from the dead, we as a State shall surmount all these hurdles.”

The statement reads in full,

EASTER MESSAGE TO EBONYIANS

Fellow Ebonyians, happy easter to you all.

Easter is a commemoration of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who despite being sinless offered himself as a sacrifice for the redemption of others, including his enemies, and became the atonement for the world ravaged by sin and other vices.

This momentous event of sacrifice transformed humanity and remains the single most important event in the Christian calendar.

By atoning death, Jesus Christ reconciled mankind to God, broke the wall of division between Jews and Gentiles and brought all of us, into the Household of God.

This season of love and sacrifice has come at a time when most segments of the world are either passing through one chaotic situation or the other, Ebonyi State not being an exception.

Particularly for us in Ebonyi State, this year’s Easter is coming at the time we are faced with the daunting challenges of finding amicable solutions to the intractable crises between Effium and Ezza Effium, Abaomege and Ishinkwo, Enyigba and Enyibichiri and other pockets of hostilities in parts of the State including the recent massacre of our brothers of Egedegede in Ishielu Local Government Area by marauding herders.

According to a proverb in Tibet, “tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength; I charge you that though these may be the times that try the hearts of men, we should not lose hope. Let us stand firm in the belief that this trial of our faith, though it is tried with the fire of hostilities, shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at this season of God’s love.

We must continue to pray and stand together in unity as one people having one State and worshipping Only God. We must turn again to the promise of Easter which is that what God did in the resurrection of Jesus, God will do again for this blessed State. This State is on the rise, our people are equally on the move, the leadership is people and Christ-Centric and our symphony of unity continues to ring louder and more enchanting.

Let this lesson and impulse of love and amity drive us to find far-reaching solutions to the barrage of blood bath in parts of the State and beyond.

As Jesus triumphed over death, we will also triumph over every agent of disunity be it communal wars or herder’s attack.

As your Leader, I feel your pain. What affects you affects me and what affects me, affects you. The death of any Ebonyian diminishes me. That is why we are fighting the hostilities with all the wisdom of God in us. We trust God, that at the end of the day as our Lord Jesus is rising from the dead, we as a State shall surmount all these hurdles.

While I call on you to remain united and eschew all forms of bitterness, hatred and further bloodletting, I wish all of us renewed strength this Easter.

Happy Easter and God bless Ebonyi State.

His Excellency,
Engineer David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE
Governor of Ebonyi State