Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has performed the foundation laying ceremony of the State Ecumenical Centre in Yenagoa , the state capital.
He explained that the decision to build the centre was borne out of his administration’s desire to appreciate and dedicate the state to God for his manifold blessings.
Governor Dickson, who expressed gratitude to the church for their continued prayers and support, emphasized the need for Bayelsans to form the habit of thanking and appreciating the goodness of God at all times for His kindness and mercies.
“As the governor of Bayelsa state, I have every reason to thank God. During our electioneering, we put God first in everything that we did and we were able to record a political feat that is unprecedented in the history of our dear state” Governor Dickson remarked.
He went further, “In spite of the threat and the reign of terror then, no life was lost while God has given us victory over all the litigations instituted against this administration.
Whatever feat recorded by this administration, it is to the credit of the people of Bayelsa state”.
“For this administration to succeed and deliver the dividend of democracy as promised during our campaign, we need the support of everybody”.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Bayelsa State chapter, Most Reverend Israel Ege thanked the governor for the warm relationship between the church and government, noting that the state has recorded another landmark achievement by setting aside a particular day to give thanks to God.
Ege, quoting from the gospel according to Saint Luke and the Book of Psalm, stressed the need for thanksgiving, adding that the state had in the past gone through turbulence, notably the recent flood that left in its trail the destruction of property worth millions of naira and the recent Supreme court verdict that upheld the victory of Governor Seriake Dickson election.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the contracting firm, Core Services and Consulting International Limited, Mr. Victor Omobude said the project when completed would not only be a worship centre but also serve as an iconic tourist attraction in the state.
According to him, the edifice, which is designed by world renowned architect, Professor Giorgio Pagnoni comprises restaurants, offices, conference rooms and an altar with a remote control hydraulic system.
For better cooling effect, he added that the centre will also have about 5 kilometre of underground piping to circulate natural air as back up to the normal air-conditioning system.
In their separate remarks, the Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and Apostle Zilly Aggrey of the Royal House of Grace International Church commended the state government for embarking on the project and prayed God to continually bless the Governor.
The centre to be situated at the gateway town of Igbogene, on completion is expected to have a sitting capacity of about 3,000 people.
