Deborah Monday

22nd December 2020

Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel on Monday said he was led by divine ordinance to build a central worship centre in the oil-rich state.

He told journalists it was unreasonable for a state named after God not to have a unique worship centre.

The 54-year-old cited the biblical leader Nehemiah who was opposed by his people for attempting to build a temple, but once the temple was completed, the people came and celebrated with him.

Speaking during the interactive session with journalists, the governor, who is a deacon, said: “There are certain things a leader would do which is not for himself and his family but for the spiritual benefit of his people”.

He said the call on corporate organisations, private individuals, and institutions to donate funds for the project cannot stop the State from playing its role, adding that even as Governor, he and his family have made personal donations to the project.

“The centre is called International Christian Centre and not Udom Emmanuel Memorial Church, and is for the benefit of the entire state,” the Peoples Democratic Party governor noted.

“Anyone who donates above one million naira would have his name on a plague in the centre,” he stated.

Critics say funds for the centre could have been injected elsewhere.

The worship centre, under construction, is located at Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo near the 21-storey smart building that has been adjudged by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Nigeria’s most technologically advanced and IT compliant building in the country, during his tour of the facility on Saturday, December 19.

The State Government has been criticised by some people over the worship centre, with critics either saying the proposed funds for the project is way too high or that there were better things that could impact the people than the buiding.

Policy Alert, a non-profit organisation working to simplify government data and make it available to everyday citizens, recently revealed how the Akwa Ibom State government was planning to splash out N6.7bn on the international worship centre, in the 2021 budget.

Another group, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Akwa Ibom State -led by Mr Franklin Isong – also said the project wasn’t meant to be built with public funds.

The CLO further accused the State House of Assembly of ignoring or forgetting to do its duty.

Source: https://firstreportsonline.com/gov-emmanuel-why-were-building-international-worship-centre/amp/

Inferiority complex of the black man instead of embracing our traditional religion we celebrate the religion of our oppressors disgusting, he can continue but personally I would invest the money in teaching African religions in all schools from primary to secondary there should be a study in university for African spirituality and religion, and we should have temples dedicated to our gods, look at China, Japan all the countries we love. The one thing they have done right is maintain their religion and their beliefs you will find temples dedicated to gods across Japan and China, because they chose not to lose their culture to the white man, but us Africans completely let it go, the same applies to Islam it is not a religion of the black man, but anyway we will never learn until it is too late.

The building is good overall, just wish he didn’t build it for that purpose the building could be used as a convention centre, second mall or even a university campus but nope had to be a church, beautiful edifice used for the wrong thing.

Ok

Best Gift for all of Humanity sited in Uyo....!! Good Job

Akwa Ibom's priorities: Church > Education

Is it constitutional for a secular state to be spending public funds to build worship centers, pilgranages and other religious endeavors. The supreme court needs to rule of this issue asap.

This is one of his looting avenues...Fear Politicians

wtf

recently revealed how the Akwa Ibom State government was planning to splash out N6.7bn on the international worship centre, in the 2021 budget.

One article alleged this amount is foing to larger than the 2021 education budget.

Religion is a scan in Nigeria. Political leaders and religious leaders are conniving to deprive the average man of his basic needs.