Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Friday recounted his experience with COVID-19 attack and said more than three members of his family contracted the virus.
He said that the best way to avoid the deadly disease is for everyone to accept its reality and abide with the prescribed preventive protocols.
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, his family 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.
He also wanted to thank God for allowing the family escape from a fire incident that engulfed the household some time ago.
“As a family, we want today, to thank God for His faithfulness unto us, for the peace that we enjoy, for the unity in our home and for His love in our lives.
“God has done so much for us and we will continue to thank Him every day of our lives.
“Sometimes, I wonder how and why we deserve His mercy; it is for His grace not because we are so righteous.
God has continued to be there for me and my family, and I will continue to thank Him.
“In my approach to the 2015 election, not many people gave me a chance but God perfected His will,” Okowa said.
He thanked Deltans and Nigerians for their prayers while the travails lasted and pledged to redouble his service to God and in governing Delta.
He said that a lot had been achieved by his administration, adding however that much needed to be done.
He asked for the support of all Deltans in building a stronger state.
To those who are in the habit of criticising his policies and programmes, the governor urged them to base their criticism on facts rather than fiction.
He reaffirmed his zeal to pursue programmes that would move the state forward, stressing that all protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of coronavirus in the state would be enforced.
The Chaplain of the Chapel, Venerable Charles Osemenam, said that if not for God, the first family would have been thrown into “darkness’’ by the devil.
Osemenam whose message was titled “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, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori ànd the member representing Oshimili North Constituency in the Assembly, Mrs Pat Ajudua, said that the thanksgiving was appropriate.
Both called on Deltans to avoid acts capable of spreading COVID-19.
The thanksgiving service was attended by top government functionaries.
