Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and immediate past Governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Wednesday, extolled the virtues of Chief Patrick Ukah who turned 60 years on April 10.
Governor Oborevwori, at the thanksgiving reception held at the Events Centre, Asaba, lauded Ukah, who is immediate past Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), for his indelible contributions to the growth and development of the state.
He particularly lauded the celebrant who is Director-General, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, for his role in the transition that led to the emergence of his administration, describing him as “a good man”.
Governor Oborevwori said: “I am very happy to join you today as God has taken you to the sixth level of life because it is not easy to attain that age for which we thank God you have reached in your life.
“We thank God for the big achievements you have attained in life and, as a very loyal person, we thank God for your life which has been marked by great accomplishments.
“I know the role you played at the tough time of our political journey and I thank God for all the visitors who came from all over the country to celebrate with you.
“Let me thank your wife and your children for all their contributions to making you the great man you are today. I must also thank you for taking the thanksgiving to Okpanam, your community.
“We congratulate you and pray that God will continue to bless you with more wisdom, good health and many more accomplishments.”
Chairman of the occasion and immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, at the event, described the celebrant as a focused and resilient man with a great sense of commitment to duty.
Okowa commended Ukah for his love for God, his community and for his contributions to his administration’s success, saying, “I must thank God for this day because God has made it possible for my friend and brother to turn 60 today. It is only God that makes it possible to turn 60, because it is not easy.
“Chief Ukah is a man who radiates love, and, by the grace of God, he has attained several positions both in the state and nationally.
“He became very close to me when he became Commissioner for Information and, later, Basic and Secondary Education, a greater task he did excellently well and had to be given a greater task again as Secretary to the State Government”.
In a homily, the Very Rev Fr Hilary Nwadei said one sure way to remain a recipient of God’s blessings was through sincere and regular thanksgiving.
He recalled that, out of the ten lepers healed by Christ in the Bible, one was totally healed because he came back to thank God, stressing that some persons were stagnated because they failed to appreciate God for all He gave them.
The Chief celebrant, Chief Patrick Ukah, who could not hide his joy, thanked God for saving him during the Nigerian Civil War.
The thanksgiving reception was attended by many dignitaries, including Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo.
Others included Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo; the Managing Director, Price Water House and Cooper, Mr Uyi Akpata, top government functionaries and captains of industry, as well as traditional rulers.
