The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, has expressed gratitude to God for preserving his life despite several attempts to kill him, including a harrowing kidnap experience.
Naijaonpoint reports that Amaewhule spoke on Sunday during a thanksgiving service to mark his 52nd birthday at the All Saints Anglican Church, Eliozu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The Speaker said his celebration was not only about adding another year but also about acknowledging God’s protection over his life in the past years.
He said, “I am not just marking another birthday but acknowledging that many people had planned to take my life in the last one year, but God didn’t allow them.”
Amaewhule recalled how he narrowly escaped death in 2008, when he was abducted by gunmen shortly after attending a church service.
“Some of you were here in 2008 when a preacher was preaching right here on a Sunday service. On that fateful day, I didn’t know the people who came to kidnap me were also in the service.
“After service, they tactically followed me to my residence, tied up my security guard and abducted me. They took me to a forest where they held me hostage for five days.
“They placed thorns under my feet and inflicted several injuries on my head and body in the process of moving me from one hideout to another within the forest.
“They fed me with biscuits throughout the period, even as I almost bled to death,” the lawmaker recounted.
Reflecting on his journey, Amaewhule said the thanksgiving was his way of appreciating God for sparing his life from death on numerous occasions.
“When God does things for you, it is important to appreciate him for more,” he added.
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