by By Caterpillar Media Team
The Holy Father and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis 1, has specially recognized distinguished Senator Sandy Onor on the occasion of the Centenary celebration of the Catholic Church in Ogoja Diocese on Friday, 14th May 2021 at St. Benedict’s Cathedral for his selfless, passionate, tremendous contributions and humble devotion to the growth of the Roman Catholic Church in the diocese.
The Award was conveyed to the Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus E. Akpan by the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, His Excellency, Arch Bishop Antonio Guido Fillipazzi and was presented to the senator by the Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. William Avenya.
The Papal award is the highest category of awards presented during the centenary celebration and the lawmaker was considered for this award after a careful review of his antecedence.
Reacting to the award while filing questions from journalists, the elated and cerebral Sen. Sandy Onor averred that “we take this award very seriously as an honor from the priests who are representatives of God and as an honor from God.
“The consequence therefore is that we are expected by the Church to do more whatever we are doing to get the recognition of the Church. The recognition shows that we are on the part to gaining salvation or else, at the end of the day, all is vanity”
Speaking further, the lawmaker congratulated the Church, the Clergy and all the laity that worked to bring the gospel to where it is today, “I want to congratulate the Church, the forerunners, the Clergy and all the laity that worked with them at the time when it was so difficult. They are examples of faith and works, for faith and works goes together”
Sen. Onor used the opportunity to stress that, the award is a call for those of them in leadership to redoubled their efforts to make the country work. “And for those of us who are in power today and for the country, it makes us redouble our efforts to make the country works, Nigeria is a beautiful place.
“When we look for result and work as diligently as our forefathers worked, all other things will be added unto us. Congratulations to all of us”.
Other awardees during the celebration include but not limited to the Former Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba OFR CON SAN, former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, Brigadier General Anthony Ukpo, Rtd, Bishop of Uyo Diocese, Bishop *John Ayah, Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN and others.
The Arch Bishop Emeritus of Abuja Diocese, Cardinal John Onayekan, the Local Ordinary and Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. William Avenya were among the religious leaders that graced the occasion.
