BY AWELE OGBOGU
The Director/Head of Department, Finance and Accounts, Delta Printing and Publishing Corporation (DPPC), publisher of The Pointer Newspapers, Mr. Emmanuel Okekpolo has offered thanksgiving to God on account of attaining the pinnacle of his civil service career with promotion to Grade Level 17.
He noted that it is more about his freedom from evil forces who fought him for 17 years before he regained all that his adversaries thought he had lost.
In an emotional testimony he delivered, today, during the thanksgiving service at Christ Intercessors and Soul Harvest Church, Asaba, Okekpolo said it was billed to coincide with the birthday of his wife, who stood firmly by him all through the turbulent years.
He said : “my testimony is of two dimensions, finance and God’s directive that he is the same yesterday, today and forever”, adding that the uniqueness of his recent elevation to Grade Level 17 in the Delta State Civil Service was that while his contemporaries qualified after six years, it was discovered that he was over-due by an additional year, meaning he over-stayed by three years on his previous Grade Level.”
“I was employed in 1994 and was the second graduate to be employed into the accounting department but I suffered in the hands of the oppressors for more than 17 years”, he said.
Okekpolo recalled that “it started when it was time for me to head the accounts department. Instead, I was transferred to the advert department. I petitioned to the then commissioner but was only moved back to accounts. So each time I came to work, I was in pains as my heart was burning over this act of injustice.”
“I was in a dream where I followed one of them to a farm and he began to work very fast. But at a point, he brought out an AK-47 rifle and started firing at me. Yet none of the bullets got to me” he said, adding that when one is in a dangerous situation, God will be there to speak to them.
“There was a time the Delta State House of Assembly gave judgment that I should be restored as the chief accountant which was well publicized even in The Pointer Newspaper and at one time, the Head of Service gave a directive, but all to no avail because of the power that rules. I was denied what was due to me for 17 years all because of the same power that rules.”
“I petitioned for Grade Level 17 three years ago but someone had to retire to pave way for it to come to fruition, while it took another to accomplish the task before he too retired. So if you are being victimized, all you have to do is relax. God opened the door for me all through those 17 years, as he provided all my necessities in life.”
“Yet the battle continued that at a point, I found myself in the hospital with a stroke”, Okekpolo said, adding that “in all, I have conquered because God said I will not allow any temptation that is higher than you.”
In conclusion, the General Coordinator of the church, Pastor Godfrey Oshilim admonished the congregation to always wait for God’s own time.”
Thereafter, the Okekpolos entertained the church members, with a lavish reception organized for guests at their residence.
