The Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh, has sent his warmth  felicitation to the youths and people of Obowo State Constituency, and indeed  the entire Imolites, on the occasion of 2022  Feb14, lovers’ day  celebration.

Mr Speaker said that  the lovers’ day celebration,  usually marked  every  February, 14th, which is a  commemoration of the death anniversary of St. Valentine, a 3rd century saint who paid the supreme price in defense of love, is now recognized the world over as celebration of love, bond and relationship.

He said that  the celebration  is a clarion call on Imo youths to eschew all forms of violence and embrace love unconditionally.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker urged Imolites to emulate Saint Valentine,  who despite all odds, ensured that love was  properly consummated in marriage among young people who loved themselves, a selfless act that cost him his life.

He noted that the rising spate of insecurity and other forms of anti-social vices, such as kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, quick money symdrone  and so  on, which have become the order of the day, negate the spirit of love which is being  celebrated on February 14  of every year.

He reminded Imolites that while basking in  the euphoria of the celebration, they should not loose sight of the lessons inherent in the occasion.

Mr Speaker decried the gradual and steady erosion of our moral values, but called on the youths to see the  season as  as an opportunity to entrench love, not only in their hearts and families but also in Imo State.

He called on all and sundary to join hands with His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, to recreate Imo and make it   an enviable state among the  comity of s tates where peace and love flow like unending stream.

He said, ” I rejoice with you as you celebrate the commemoration of the death anniversary of St Valentine, otherwise known as Lovers’ day,  a man who history has told us died for encouraging love among  young ones by joining them in marriage.
“l therefore enjoin you to see the act of St Valentine as a reflecton of the true Igbo spirit of love, unity  entrepreneurship, resourcefulness  and “onye aghala waneye’, which are  synonymous with our people since age immemorial”.

‘ I pray that God in his infinite mercy will fill us with the spirit of true  love as manifested in the life of  saint Valentine”.

Happy lovers’ day celebration’!

Thank you.

Signed:

Ifeanyi Onyekachi-
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, IMHA.

11/2/2022.