Day Anglican Primate leads 160 Bishops to consecrate 3 new bishops in Anambra

www.odogwublog.com reports that it was a day of joy as people from all walks of life

stormed Onitsha, Anambra state for consecration of three new bishops. It was an 'unusual' seeing human presence that got the All Saints Cathedral filled and overflowed into white plastic seats stationed outside the periphery of the church. The reason? Three new bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) were being consecrated. And they came with some of their parishioners from the length and breadth of the millions of Nigerian Anglican faithful.

A 30-minute procession comprised the choir clad in red; the clergy in white vestments, the legal luminaries and the grandeur of red cassocks nestled in white richly embroidered garments announcing the bishops. The Bishops elect looked solemn in their black cassocks.

Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, the Metropolitan and Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), who presided over the consecration advised them ``to be shepherds and not a wolf to the flock of Christ. Feed the flocks and do not devour them; seek the lost, uphold the weak, restore health to the sick, lift the down trodden, ensure discipline but forget not mercy. Be merciful and be not too remiss,” Oko said.

He thanked Gov. Willie Obiano for being committed to neutralizing the frosty relationship between the Roman Catholic and the Anglican Churches in Anambra.

Okoh, while fielding questions from journalist, shortly after the consecration urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to stop giving attention to political defectors.

“If I were the President–elect, I will not give attention to anybody because they are not people to be trusted; they lack credibility and are people who are destroying the country. They did not work for the party so why are they joining the party now,'' Okoh said.

According to him, the administration is an incoming one, it has set its programmes and the one who needs advice is not the new government but Nigerians.

He said the administration needed the cooperation of all Nigerians to make its programmes a success. “So we ask Nigerians to please cooperate with them in our own interest, because if we cooperate, they will do good work but if we don’t, they cannot do anything”.

Okoh, however, urged the incoming government to keep to its campaign promises. “We know that no government can touch everything in the comprehensiveness of human life; it is the duty of the incoming government to study areas embodiment in their campaign promises. I believe it was the manifesto that enabled them to win, so they should look at it and see that they implement it.”

Earlier in his homily, the Bishop of Akoko Diocese, Gabriel Akinbiyi, enjoined Christians to always strive to lead an exemplary life. He expressed dissatisfaction at the spate of crimes in society, regretting that Christians were associated with such vices. “In Nigeria, we have been broken in various ways ranging from hardship, unemployment, insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation among others. So, we need men of God with the right word to help console and heal the wounds in the minds of our people. It is hoped that the Church of Nigeria, by this consecration service has made a monumental contribution by choosing the right persons to help bring the needed succour. As men and women of goodwill gather from all nooks and crannies of this nation to witness this consecration service, it is hoped that they will help uphold these new Bishops in their prayers”.

Akinbiyi stressed that Christians should always show humility and love in their disposition, adding that without the two attributes there would be no unity.

The preacher also warned on the consequences of choosing to obey or disobey God. Describing the call of God, he said "God's call is always definite and many times when He calls someone He 'strips' the person bare.

Addressing the church, the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, described the occasion as historic and thanked the Anglican Church of Nigeria for bringing the ceremony to the state.

He congratulated the new bishops on their appointments and reminded them that their services should go beyond the Anglican church.

Obiano said that this was the first time he had witnessed the consecration of bishops, even as he reminded them that the flock they would oversee ``is everybody under your jurisdiction, not minding religious or ethnic affiliations’’.

``You must not exploit the flock, but must grow the flock, be honest with them if you want them to respect and obey you and be compassionate,’’ the governor said.

The newly consecrated bishops are Ven. Captain Johnson Ekwe succeeded Rt. Rev. Prof. Anthony Nkwoka of West Niger Diocese, Ven. Moses Tabwaye succeeded Rt Rev. Philip Aduda of Gwagwalada Diocese, while Ven Isaac Oluyamo succeeded Rt. Rev. Titus Fajemirokun of Ijesha-North Diocese.

Written By Emeka Onwudinjo