Change Enugu State's sobriquet, Ex-deputy governor urge lawmakers

A former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye, has asked the state Assembly to enact a law to make the sentence: 'Enugu State is in the Hands of God', the state's official sobriquet.

Supreme reports that Enugu State's official sobriquet at the moment is: 'Coal City State'.

However, the state Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, since assumption of office in 2015, has heen using: 'Enugu State is in the Hands of God' not as the state's motto, but as a signature phrase at his official outings.

Speaking shortly after meeting with the Speaker and members of Enugu State House of Assembly, on Thursday, Nwoye said that Ugwuanyi's use of the phrase contributed to the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

He noted that Britain and the U.S. respectively used: 'God Bless the Queen' and 'In God We Trust' as their sobriquets.

"I have come to the Enugu State House of Assembly for the assemblymen to introduce 'Enugu State is in The Hands of God' as the motto for Enugu State.

"I am here to see them and I have seen them and I pray to God that they will look into why I came to speak with them about a legacy to be left by the present governor of the state.

"I came to see the speaker to let the House of Assembly know what Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is leaving behind as a legacy for the state, for them to consider passing a bill seeking that 'Enugu State is in the Hands God' be the state's motto.

"Americans have in their money: 'In God We Trust'; they started with God.

"Britains have: 'God Bless the Queen', and they trust in God in all they are doing.

"For Ugwuanyi to say Enugu State is in the hands of God, his faith has guided him, and that has made Enugu State peaceful," Nwoye said.

The Chairman, Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Mr Jeff Mba, said that the House received Nwoye, listened to him and would deliberate on his proposal.

"He has submitted his proposal, we received it. When the House reconvenes, we will look into it.

"It is like a correspondence, and the speaker received it.

"It is when we treat it that we can tell you what our response is, it is when we debate on it that you can say the House has responded," Mba said.