The governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has called for a three-day fasting and prayers in the state following the death of his Commissioner for Infrastructure Development, Fidelis Nweze.
The commissioner allegedly passed on last Saturday, June 19, at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja due to injuries which he sustained in an auto crash.
The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, declared Wednesday, June 23, as a public holiday in honour of the departed former members of the State Executive Council.
According to the statement, the governor directed that all offices and markets should be closed while flags in the state are to fly at half mast while the public holiday is being observed.
The statement read that all government officials in the state should proceed on fasting and prayers to seek the face of God in the affairs of the state with prayers led by the state chapter of the Christian Association for Nigeria to break the fast by 4pm at the Christian Ecumenical Centre every day from Wednesday, June 23 to Saturday, June 26.
Fidelis served as the Commissioner for Works in the first tenure of Governor Umahi between 2015 and 2019. Until his death, he was the Commissioner for infrastructure and Development.
The late commissioner, a strong ally to the governor, was ascribed to be behind the infrastructural developments in Ebonyi State in the last six years.
Umahi, who earlier confirmed his death to journalists on Tuesday at new Government House Centenary City, Abakaliki, said the accident took place in Enugu, but the deceased was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abuja where he went through a surgery but gave up the ghost afterwards.
The statement read, “The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has sadly announced the sudden departure of the Commissioner for Infrastructure Development, Fidelis Nweze, in a ghastly motor accident on Tuesday, June 22.
“To this end, the governor has declared Wednesday, June 23, 2021, as a public holiday in honour of the departed former members of the State Executive Council.
“Consequently, the governor has directed that all offices and markets should be closed while all flags are to fly at half mast on Wednesday, June 23rd across the state.
“The governor also directed all government officials to proceed on fasting to seek the face of God in the affairs of the state while CAN is charged to organize prayers to break the fast by 4pm at the Christian Ecumenical Centre every day, starting from Wednesday, June 23 to Saturday, June 26, 2021.
“All government officials are enjoined to participate in all the activities. The governor prays for peaceful repose of the souls of the fallen former Exco members.”
