The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Rev’d Dr Henry Ndukuba has admonished the now retired Archbishop Buba Lamido to always remember the loving kindness of God despite every situation in which he found himself.
Delivering his sermon from Psalm 107:1-3, 43, at the retirement service of the Most Rev’d Prof. Buba Lamido held at St. Bartholomew Cathedral, Wusasa today 18th May, 2024, the Primate encouraged him and his wife to know that their lives are in God’s hands, and He is completely sovereign over them. He added that focusing on God’s loving kindness no matter what happens, according to Psalm 107: 43 is the key word of God to him and his family.
While speaking about the life of the retiring Archbishop, Primate Ndukuba noted that Archbishop Lamido is an icon of note in the Church of God whose election was divine and uncommon as he remained the only bishop from the Fulani tribe in the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.
“He is a bridge builder, mentor to many who moves along with everyone as i enjoyed working with him while he was the dean of the Church.” “He is a man full of rich knowledge” he added.
Primate Ndukuka admonished him to remain a steward of God in the new phase of his life. He added that under God, there is time for everything, and he believes that Archbishop Lamido’s retirement is coming at God’s time even though by the statutory of the Church, he has few more years to reach the 70 years age of retirement.
The Primate thanked him for his labour of love in the household of God and prayed that the loving kindness of the Lord will continue to keep him in his new endeavors.
Furthermore, he reminded the people that the town of Wusasa is the only Christian town in the North founded upon the word of God as a Christian community as he encouraged them to trust in God’s goodness despite the tough situation they are in.
He urged the Wusasa community to remain steadfast in God with firing faith in them notwithstanding the high level of persecution, banditry and kidnapping around them.
Wusasa Diocese was created on 2nd December 1997 and Archbishop Ali Buba Lamido is the first Bishop for the Diocese, which is under the Anglican Province of Kaduna in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.
In his valedictory speech, the Most Rev’d Prof. Baba Lamido appreciated God Almighty for all He has done in his life of 64 years plus and ministry of 27 years.
The Archbishop paid a lot of tributes to all those who influenced his life through and through and not forgetting those who have helped in his ministry.
He noted the several threats to his life and that of his family making it difficult most of the times for him to do his ministerial duties and bond with his members and community as expected of him in his time at Wusasa.
He encouraged the priests of the Diocese to remain focused and resilient, striving the more to become a good priest rather than striving to become a Bishop.
He committed all the members of the Diocese and the Wusasa community into the hands of God praying that God keeps them all in good faith and bless them with a good pastor as the new bishop after him as they remain steadfast in God.
Archbishop Lamido concluded by assuring anyone who have done anything ungodly against him, that they are forgiven, and he or his wife holds no grudges against any of them.
“I thank God that I am retiring with sound health and wellness”, he added.
After his speech, Archbishop Lamido handed over the documents of the Diocese and his handover notes to the legal officers of the diocese as a sign of his signing out as the Diocesan for Wusasa Diocese.
Archbishop Ali Buba Lamido was born on the 29th August, 1959 and hails from Shelleng Local Government of Adamawa State in Nigeria. He bacmae a parish priest in the year 1993, was elected the first bishop of Wusasa Diocese in 1997, became the first elected Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in February 2018, a position he served its full 5 years term till February 2023.
Mrs Mary Lamido, the wife of the Archbishop Lamido gave the vote of thanks and appreciated all who found the time to attend the glorious exit service, members of the diocese especially the women organisation for their works and dedication while she was serving with them.
The retirement service witnessed presentations by the the Diocesan Choir, women group, Sabon Rai group and the Road Safety Corps. It had in attendance over 20 bishops and the Archbishops of Kaduna Province, The Most Rev’d Dr. Timothy Yahaya and his counterpart from Lokoja Province, The Most Rev’d Dr. Daniel Yisa, over 100 clergymen, the General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria, Ven. Dr. Paul Dajur, former Registrar of the Church of Nigeria, Barr. Abraham Yisa, the Chairman of the Church of Nigeria Relief committee, Dr. Peter Nmadu, Chaplain of the Nigeria Army, Ven. Lt Col. T.E Ogbonyomi, some staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission command, and several Dignitaries across the country.
By Korede Akintunde
