AMORI MOBILIZES RECORD ₦51.5 MILLION HARVEST FOR ST. PAUL’S MULTI-PURPOSE HALL

By Joelson Wilson

St. Paul Catholic Church’s Niger Delta Ethnic Cultural Harvest thanksgiving recorded its highest-ever turnout on Sunday, as Sen. Ighoyota Amori, Chief Adviser to the Governor of Delta State, mobilized 120 contributors; including the Delta State Governor, his deputy, sitting senators, federal lawmakers, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, political associates to raise a record-breaking N51,540,000 for the church’s multi-purpose hall project.

The sum, nearly triple last year’s contribution of a little over N20,000,000, was presented to the parish priest as a signed cheque by Sen. Amori, who has coordinated the annual thanksgiving for the second consecutive year.

Reading from a six-page list of contributors and amount contributed during the service, Sen. Amori acknowledged Delta State Governor, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme; former Delta State Governors Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa and Chief James Ibori; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo; Senator representing Delta South and Central respectively, Sen. Joel Thomas-Onowakpo and Sen. Ede Dafinone; Member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu; Member representing Isoko Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Jonathan Ukodhiko; Member representing Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Francis Waive; immediate past Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro; founding leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief O’tega Emerhor; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; former speakers of the Delta state house of assembly; Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei and Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya; former chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Hon. Michael Diden.

Others are managing director, Danmotech, Chief Daniel Omoyibo; Oil mogul and businessman, Chief Broderick Arigbodi; Chairman of New Dynamic Forum, Sir Sheba Palama; legal luminary and business, Chief Andrew Oru; Professor and consultant of Medical Parasitologist at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Wellington Oyibo; the eight local government council chairmen of Delta Central, commissioners both current and former, other political appointees both current and former, royal fathers, political associates, staff of the Office of the Chief Adviser also featured prominently on the list, among others, he read out meticulously.

The announcement of each name and contribution was met with sustained cheers from the congregation, culminating in what parishioners described as an unprecedented outcome for the event.

Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Charles Omogiate, commended Sen. Amori’s outreach in his gratitude message to the coordinators. “The Chief Adviser went all out in reaching out to his political associates and friends for their financial contributions to ensure this year’s event surpassed last year,” he said.

In a moment that reflected the congregation’s confidence in his leadership, Sen. Amori’s announcement that this would be his final year as coordinator, made so that “others can also have the opportunity to contribute their quota” was firmly rejected by the congregation, who responded with a chorus of “not approved, you have to continue.”

Speaking after the presentation, Sen. Amori paid tribute to Governor Oborevwori’s backing of the initiative. “The governor’s leadership has made it possible for a wider contribution and participation this year,” he said, noting that the governor supported this year’s thanksgiving “overwhelmingly, more than he did last year.” He extended his profound appreciation to all who contributed, describing the harvest as “a great appreciation to God for all His mercy for the Niger Delta all through the year.”

The thanksgiving service was themed “Harvest of Abundance”. Earlier, Very Revd Fr. John-Paul Ashoro preaching on 1 Kings 17 and the widow of Zarephath, urged the congregation to sow in faith and gratitude toward the multi-purpose hall project. In his message, Fr. Ashoro specifically commended Sen. Amori for his “steadfastness and commitment in using his influence and position in ensuring projects of the church are successful.”

With the multi-purpose hall project now significantly boosted, parishioners say the record-breaking contribution stands as a testament that God continues to raise people of influence and authority who are willing to devote their time and resources to church projects that members of the parish, on their own, would have found difficult to accomplish.