By Patrick Titus, Uyo
Occupying someone’s property as a tenant has some advantages such as flexibility and reduced maintenance responsibilities but its disadvantages which include lack of equity building and potential for rent increases or possible eviction far outweigh all.
For what scholars describe as “there’s no escape”, as a tenant, you will hear your neighbours and they hear you. Every spoken word, every television show, every radio station, every quarrel, every fight, every drunken moments among others.
For Chris Vic, an Akwa Ibom-born physically challenged gospel music artiste who lives in a rented apartment, the impact of these disadvantages as tenant, has no doubt, constituted a weighty stone on his shoulder for a number of years.
Chris may have nurtured hope that someday, end to his trouble would come but as a mortal being, he didn’t know when and how it will come. Though disabled but he belongs to the category of those who see ability even in disability. He was born with a talent which through hardwork, has brought him up for the recognition.
Chris Vic made the list among the top gospel artistes namely: Mercy Chinwo, Moses Bliss, Progress Effiong, Awesome Group, Victor Thompson, Bobby Friga, Reho Sax, David G, Prosper Ochimana, BeeJay Sax, and Aity Dennis who performed at this year’s Akwa Ibom State Unity Concert held at the International Worship Centre, Uyo.
Organised on Friday by the Akwa Ibom State Government in collaboration with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), it was held to herald the Christmas celebration in the state.
On the event, Chris Vic came face to face with destiny through a man that God has chosen for a season and time in the governance of the 38-year old Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, the Executive Governor of the state, who made a pronouncement that echoed thunderous cheers from the sea of worshipers that greeted the event.
Governor Eno, who was moved by the spirit-filled worship performance of Chris Vic, noted him as a gift to Akwa Ibom State and a divine instrument of God’s service whose talent must be encouraged.
Instantly, the Governor directed the Commissioner for Lands to allocate to
Chris Vic, a plot of land in Uyo for the construction of a 4-bedroom apartment which will incorporate an equipped musical studio to the tune of N100m, and pledged to support him with a N1m monthly allowance throughout his tenure as the State Executive Governor.
His statement, “I want to celebrate this young man that can still praise God in spite of what we see about him as a disability.
“I am told he lives in a rented house. So I am directing the Commissioner for Lands to allocate him a land in Uyo. I will sign the Certificate of Occupancy next week. As soon as he gets that Certificate of Occupancy, we will build him a four bedroom flat. He will live in two rooms, and the other two rooms, we would develop a studio for him. We are ready to spend a hundred million naira to acquire him a studio. That does not include the cost of the land, and the cost of the house. They will put a fence around it. So long as I remain Governor, he will get one million Naira as monthly allowance.
“We need to encourage our talents. Let this be a reminder for those of us that complain and feel that God has not been good to us. Let Chris Vic be a reminder that we can still praise God, our prevailing circumstance not withstanding. And I want Chris Vic to also know that this Government cares about those living with disability,” Governor Eno stated .
However, the Governor, during the event, called on residents of the state to rise above political and ethnic sentiments as reflected in the state’s anthem and come together to sustain a united and prosperous state.
The Governor who also ministered in different languages at the concert, explained that the Concert was organized to herald the Christmas celebration and sustain the inseparable bond of the state citizens, as children of God, with Jesus Christ.
He said Akwa Ibom State was founded by love and unity and that the sacred bond will be guarded with diligence, irrespective of differences in political views and ideologies.
“Our forebears came together and formed the Ibibio Union, and they did not know Annang, Oro, Eket or Ibibio. All they knew was that we should have a state that we must fight for and protect for our children, and children’s children.
“This concert reminds us tonight that the blood of our forebears still run in our veins, and that Christ came that we might be united. It doesn’t matter the political party, a united Akwa Ibom is indivisible Akwa Ibom that rises above ethnicity, and believes in God,” he noted.
The Governor thanked worshipers for sparing time to unite and honour God irrespective of their political differences.
Preaching on the topic “In Him We Live, Move and Have Our Being”, drawn from the gospel of Acts 17:24-28 Archbishop Emmah Isong admonished worshipers to sustain the bond of unity, love and respect hierarchies of leadership to enhance peace and development of the state.
The cleric appreciated Governor Eno for the peace and unity he has brought to the state, and presented a “Unity Award” to the Governor on behalf of the organizers of the event.
