The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Wednesday, explained why he always identifies with the less privileged on his birthdays, saying it will be uncharitable to throw lavish parties in the midst of misery and hunger.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated this while speaking with newsmen at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, shortly after visiting the sick, prison inmates and special children as part of activities to mark his birthday.
The Deputy Governor, who visited the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Okaka, the Diete Koki Memorial Hospital and Gloryland Children’s Home all in Opolo, was accompanied by some House of Assembly members, commissioners, local government chairmen, and other top government functionaries.
While appreciating the place of celebration in human life, he, however, maintained that it would be morally wrong for him to organize loud birthday parties that would not touch the lives of the less privileged in society.
He said a true reflection on the socio-economic situation of the country would challenge every well meaning Nigerian to think more of how to reduce the level of hunger and poverty than to engage in self-glorification and revelry.
His words, “What are you celebrating when there are so many persons who lack? As you see today, we have visited the correctional centre, the orphanage, and some hospitals
“You cannot celebrate lavishly when a lot of people are not in a position to have something to eat. That will be very uncharitable. Thousands of people around you are hungry. So, what joy do you actually derive in celebrating in that manner?
“And for us as Catholics, we have only three missions. One mission is to serve God; the other mission is the mission of charity, and of course, the mission for enlightenment. So I am taking two which are critical; serving God and charity. Charity is part of me.
“And you need to know that my birthday which is on the 5th of September fortunately is the World Charity Day. So I have to be charitable to justify that day I was born. My patron saint was also a charitable saint, St. Lawrence. So I am living out myself.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo appealed to the political class and other well placed citizens to always reach out to the needy, especially in their moment of celebrations as part of service to God and humanity.
According to the Deputy Governor, his birthday on the 5th of September coincided with the yearly celebration of the International Day of Charity, which inspires him to carry out philanthropic activities to justify the day and his belief.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo further explained he decided to postpone the visit to the 8th of September to enable him honour the birthday of Mary, the Mother Jesus Christ, stressing that as a Catholic, the Holy Mary remains very dear to him.
At the Gloryland Children Home, Opolo, Senator Ewhrudjakpo sang and danced with the special children and assured that government would soon build a more befitting centre for them.
Highpoint of the celebration was the cutting of his birthday cake with the children as well as donation of food items and cash for their upkeep.
At the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Okaka, the Deputy Governor donated food items and cash to the Management of the facility even as he directed the Management of FMC Yenagoa to distribute his little financial gift to all the wards in the facility.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo also made a cash donation and offered to foot the bills of Wednesday 8th September for all registered expectant mothers who turned up for antenatal healthcare at the Diete Koki Memorial Hospital.
Receiving the items, the Commissioner for Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development, Mrs. Faith Opuene, and Deputy Comptroller of Corrections, Okaka, Mr Emeka Ogbuji, thanked the Deputy Governor for his show of magnanimity towards the needy.
Mrs. Opene, who described Senator Ewhrudjakpo as a loving and caring father, prayed God to bless him with more wisdom and resources to cater to the needs of the less privileged.