Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has called for stronger collaboration between the government, the Church and civic groups to combat insecurity, moral decay and social excesses.
The Governor made the call on Sunday, during the annual All Knights Day celebration of the Catholic Diocese of Awka held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where a Pontifical Holy Mass was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor.
He urged religious leaders and the laity to embrace courageous leadership in rebuilding society.
Addressing the congregation of Catholic Knights, clergy and worshippers, the governor said meaningful governance and societal transformation requires the courage to pursue difficult but necessary reforms rather than popular or convenient choices.
He commended the Catholic Church for promoting what he described as the “common good” and praised Bishop Ezeokafor for providing principled leadership at a time of growing social and economic pressures.
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A major focus of Governor Soludo’s address was the enforcement of Anambra State’s Burial Law, introduced to curb extravagant funeral spending and reduce the economic burden on families. The governor argued that excessive burial ceremonies continue to affect productivity, especially as many residents remain occupied with funeral activities on key workdays.
According to him, the state may further strengthen implementation of the law to discourage wasteful practices and protect vulnerable families from financial hardship.
Governor Soludo also announced an intensified crackdown on fraudulent religious leaders accused of exploiting residents through deceptive spiritual practices. He disclosed that several suspected “fake pastors” had been arrested and were in custody, warning that the state would not tolerate activities that prey on vulnerable citizens in the guise of religion.
He said the campaign forms part of broader efforts to build what he described as a “New Anambra” founded on discipline, transparency, hard work and social responsibility.
Discipline, Humility and Service
In a demonstration of fiscal restraint, the governor approved support for the Knights’ charitable outreach to orphanages but rejected a separate request for public funding to produce ceremonial uniforms, insisting that government resources must be reserved for public needs rather than private institutional regalia.
Soludo urged members of the Catholic Knights to remain “the light of the world and the salt of the earth” by defending justice, supporting the vulnerable and living according to ethical principles rather than social status.
Earlier in his homily, the Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Iheanacho, described knighthood as a lifelong process of “sober reflection, stock-taking and reckoning,” rooted in discipline, humility and service.
He cautioned against spiritual elitism and urged the Knights to remain connected to ordinary people while preserving what he called their “human face” and prophetic voice in speaking for the oppressed and disadvantaged.
The event drew Catholic faithful from across the diocese and highlighted the growing role of faith-based institutions in addressing governance, social reform and security challenges in southeastern Nigeria.
