By Owen Eresoyen, Benin
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his Edo State counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Labour Party presidential candidate in the last general election, Mr Peter Obi on Wednesday, attended the 80th birthday anniversary Thanksgiving of High Chief Tom Ikimi.
Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, represented Governor Oborevwori at the occasion which was also attended by former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.
The thanksgiving took place at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City, Edo State.
Chief Tom Ikimi is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In his Homily at the Holy Mass, Most Rev. Felix Alaba, Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, admonished Christians to reflect on the importance of their existence by asking the question, “What is life?”
Bishop Alaba enjoined Christians to see life as not merely for pleasure and acquisition of wealth, but rather, a journey to express love, service to humanity and God with sincerity.
According to him; “As we celebrate today, many good things have been said about the celebrant, High Chief Tom Ikimi. In all of these, I will advise the celebrant to take these encomiums, these praises, with a pinch of salt because men only say good things about us when they see us, and when they stand before us, rather you should continue to serve God and take the things of God seriously.”
“God created man to love and serve Him because man was created in the image and likeness of God.
“The celebration of your 80 years on earth should be about how far you have known, love and served God who created you, that is the essence of your journey in life.
“At 80 years, you should be singing; ‘Nearer my God to thee, nearer to thee’, because you must have sincerely fulfilled your purpose of why God created you, by knowing, loving and serving Him.
“It is not about the number of days you spend on earth but it is how you dedicate yourself to God and humanity.
“Arm yourself with the grace of God, by sowing seeds of generosity, love and service to humanity,” Archbishop Alaba admonished.
