A Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has advised Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State to convert the multi-billion-naira Christian worship centre in the state to an event centre, arguing that government has no business maintaining a worship centre.
Penpushing reports that Effiong gave the advice through a post on his X handle, explaining that there are countless churches and worship centres in the state hence, government should think about productivity and job creation.
‘There are countless churches and other places of worship in the state. The State Government has no business maintaining a worship centre. The ‘International’ Worship Centre should be changed and remodelled to serve as an Event Centre’, he wrote.
Penpushing further reports that the Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, in response said that several people have offered diverse opinions towards the worship centre with some even suggesting that it should be demolished adding that the state government, being a listening one, will consider all the advice before taking action.
The former Governor Udom Emmanuel had always argued that as a state named after God, it was necessary to build an altar of worship for God, while it is recalled that association of witches and wizards sometime took him to court for building a Christian worship centre
Penpushing also reports that the former Governor confirmed this during a chat with journalists, claiming that they are atheists adding that the state government, however, won the case in court, and that the body appealed
‘All (the) witches and wizards came together and took me to court that we are building a Christian Worship Centre. They say they are atheists. The case is in the court, we won them but they have appealed’, Emmanuel added.
Penpushing reports that he argued the state had no befitting place of worship despite being named after God, a situation he said motivated him to build an altar for God, which was opened to worshippers on 2 January during the state New Year thanksgiving service, with government declaring a public holiday.
The former Governor, however, had attributed the successes recorded during his administration to the prayers of the people and thanked the fathers of faith, a group of Christian leaders in the state for their support.
Penpushing further reports that Akwa Ibom State, with an estimated population of over five million people, is predominantly Christian and has thousands of worship centres across its length and breadth, while the worship centre was estimated to cost N32 billion
The incumbent Governor at a function, however, described the edifice as not just a worship centre but a tourist attraction, and constituted a committee to ensure the maintenance of the facility, and had also announced another committee to coordinate activities at the centre and ensure prayers are offered daily at the altar.
Penpushing also reports that the project faced criticisms from many people who believed that Akwa Ibom as a state with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, should have channelled the money into building cottage factories that are capable of taking the unemployed youths off the streets.
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