From left: Governor Hope Uzodimma, Catholic Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Solomon Amatu and First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Mrs Chioma Uzodimma, shortly after Church Service at Government House Chapel Owerri… Sunday

*As Uzodimma cautions against abuse of office

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Sunday, admonished appointees of government and other elected office holders to refrain from greed and abuse of their offices in their dealings, especially with government property.

Senator Uzodimma spoke on a day the Catholic Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Solomon Amatu, urged Christian faithful, and particularly government appointees, to be good Shepherds and selfless servants to the flock in the society.

Bishop Amatu had delivered a Homily during the Service at the Government House Chapel,l which was on Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd and his flock/sheep.

Governor Uzodimma, who thanked the Bishop for finding time to worship at the Government House Chapel, described his Homily as apt, with too many takeaways by those in attendance.

However, the Governor regretted that unscrupulous government appointees and officials, who are expected to be good shepherds or “even flocks” have been discovered to be at the forefront of grabbing lands belonging to the government out of greed and building on them.

He vowed that all unauthorised buildings on such lands would be demolished.

The Governor used the opportunity to announce the commission of the Implementation Committee on recovery of government lands, which he said the members are to commence work immediately.

He, however,r noted that while the leaders as shepherds are expected to be selfless, the “flock” are equally expected to make sacrifices in the interest of the society.

Amatu said that there are different categories of shepherds –  big and small, rich and poor, presidents and their ministers, governors and their appointees, parents to their children, teachers to their students, among others.

He insisted that the relationship between the shepherds and their flocks should be such that they must “know themselves,”  “hear themselves,” and “trust themselves,” the way Jesus Christ, as a Shepherd, knew His flocks/ sheep and also heard from them.

He advised government appointees to be a reflection of good shepherds who know and hear from their flocks/sheep at all times, and to make all the necessary sacrifices required of them as worthy leaders of their flocks/ sheep.

Some of those present during the Church Service include: the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru and her husband, Chief Chukwuma, the former Governor of the State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Legislators of the House of Representatives and State House of Assembly, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie,  Executive Council members, Traditional Rulers, the Clergy and many other dignitaries.