Soludo Gets Sabbath Community’s Backing as Church Demands Greater Inclusion in Anambra Programmes

By Praise Chinecherem

The United Voice of Sabbath in Anambra State has declared its continued support for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration while urging the state government to give Sabbath missions greater recognition in Christian pilgrimage programmes and other development initiatives.

The call was made by the General Elder of the United Voice of Sabbath, Most Rev. Gideon Uchenna Omenyi, during a meeting with Hon. Barr. Odira Ezeh, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Pilgrim Affairs in the Office of the Deputy Governor.

The engagement centred on strengthening ties between the state government and the Sabbath community, with discussions covering Christian pilgrimage, religious inclusion and the participation of Sabbath worshippers in civic activities.

Ezeh commended Omenyi’s spiritual leadership and encouraged members of the community to support the Soludo administration through prayers and active involvement in the development of Anambra State.

He also outlined initiatives being pursued by the Pilgrim Affairs Office, including the Pilgrimage Exchange Programme, Pilgrimage Lottery Programme and the forthcoming Anambra State Christian Pilgrims Summit.

According to Ezeh, the programmes are expected to widen access to Christian pilgrimage, encourage religious tourism and open up employment opportunities.

He added that registration forms for the 2026 Christian pilgrimage were available at the Pilgrim Affairs Office.

While welcoming the government’s efforts to revitalise the office, Omenyi urged the administration to ensure that Sabbath missions were not left out of its programmes.

The cleric also drew attention to a longstanding concern among Sabbath adherents: the difficulty of participating in elections when voting dates fall on their designated worship days.

He argued that religious observance should not become a barrier to exercising the constitutional right to vote, calling for greater understanding and appropriate arrangements to enable Sabbath worshippers to participate in the democratic process.

“Sabbath missions have millions of members worldwide. Anambra State has a significant Sabbath population whose contributions to governance and development should not be overlooked,” Omenyi said.

He noted that the mission had made considerable sacrifices and spent years deliberating over its internal leadership election, expressing hope that improved engagement with relevant authorities would help its members reconcile their religious convictions with their civic responsibilities.

Omenyi also commended Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim for his efforts in supporting the Pilgrim Affairs Office.

He praised the Soludo administration’s work in security, road infrastructure, education and youth empowerment, reiterating the Sabbath community’s willingness to continue supporting the governor.

“Where he goes, we go,” the cleric declared.

The meeting brought into focus the need for sustained engagement between the Anambra State Government and religious organisations, particularly on access to pilgrimage opportunities and the inclusion of Sabbath missions in public programmes.

It also renewed attention to the challenge of balancing religious observance with electoral participation, with the Sabbath community seeking arrangements that protect both its faith commitments and the civic rights of its members.

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