OKOWA RECOUNTS ENCOUNTER WITH COVID – 19 AS FIRST FAMILY MAKES THANKSGIVING

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state on Friday recounted his experience with COVID-19 attack, saying more than three members of his family contracted the virus.

The Governor, at a family thanksgiving at the Government House Chapel, Asaba, said God’s mercy saw the First Family through the challenge.

Reiterating that COVID-19 was real, he said it was ridiculous and unimaginable for anyone to think that his family was given money to declare that they tested positive for the virus, stressing that the best way to avoid the devastating virus was for everybody to accept its reality and abide by the prescribed protocols to keep it at bay.

The Governor, who was with his wife, Edith and all the children, disclosed that before the pandemic infected the family, he had planned for a family thanksgiving to show gratitude to God for His goodness to him.

According to him, we planned to appreciate God for the electoral victory in 2015, five eventful years as Governor, divine mercy when a heavy object fell on his head while in the office, escaping from a fire incident that engulfed his house some time ago.

He thanked Deltans and Nigerians for their prayers while the travails lasted and pledged to be more committed to servicing God and the state.

Okowa disclosed that a lot had been achieved by his administration, adding, however, that more still needed to be done and sued for the support of all in building a Stronger Delta.

The Governor urged those in the habit of criticising his policies and programmes  to base their criticisms on facts rather than fiction.

While reaffirming his zeal to pursue programmes that would move the state forward, he emphasized that all protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of coronavirus in the state would be enforced.

In her remarks, the wife of the Governor, Dame Edith Okowa, said thanksgiving would remain a routine for the family considering God’s faithfulness in their lives.

In a brief exhortation, the Chaplain of the Government House Chapel, Asaba, Venerable Charles Osemenam, said if not for God, the first family would have been thrown into “darkness’’ by the devil.

Osemenam whose message was entitled “The Lord Triumphed Gloriously” noted that anyone who believed in God would always be victorious.

In an interview at the venue, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori ànd the member representing the Oshimili north constituency in the Assembly, Honourable Pat Ajudua, said the thanksgiving was apt and called on Deltans to avoid acts capable of spreading the COVID-19.

The thanksgiving service was attended by top government functionaries.