The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, brought the Ijebu-Ode town alive yesterday, March 19th 2024 marking 25 years the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State last witnessed the consecration of Bishops. It was therefore, indeed an epoch-making event that the diocese on this day had the opportunity once again to host the official admission of four new Bishops to the fold of the House of Bishops in the Church of Nigeria.
Recall that the newly consecrated Bishops were elected last month at the end of the episcopal synod held at St Michael’s Anglican Church Owa Alero in Ika Diocese, Delta State, The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Rev. Dr. Henry Ndukuba had announced the elections of four clergymen to fill the vacant Episcopal Sees in four Dioceses.
The Bishops are namely;
- The Rt. Rev’d Owen Amos Ukafia, Bishop of Uyo Anglican Diocese
- The Rt. Rev’d Nuhu Yohanna, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Katsina
- The Rt. Rev’d Tamunotari Obaze, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ogbia
- The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Ikechukwu Egbuonu, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Oji-River
The immediate past Dean of Church of Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Prof. Ali Buba Lamido who delivered the sermon pointedly counseled them to be leaders with human face but be firm in taking decisions that would grow their dioceses physically and spiritually. He took the text of his message from Ezekiel 1 vs 10
“As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.”
He used analogy of these animals to drive home his message. For lion a beautiful, bold and royal animal to behold; its positive side while its negative side is a ferocious animal that can pounce and devour on anything while ox is a strong animal that strives at all times to build relationships. The eagle nurtures its young ones so they can soar above the cloud and fly higher. He admonished the new Bishops to build good relationships with their priests and members of the laity and always see to their welfare. ‘Please pay priests’ stipends promptly” he added.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba who presided over the service charged the new bishops while consecrating them to be a Shepherd and not a wolf to the flock of Christ, to feed them and do not devour them, to seek the lost, uphold the weak, restore health to the sick, lift the downtrodden and ensure discipline but forget not mercy.
The Most Rev’d Dr Isaac Nwaobia, Archbishop of Aba and the Bishop of Isiala-Ngwa South was the celebrant. The Rt Rev’d Ndubisi Obi, Bishop of Nnewi Diocese was the Epsitolar taken from the book of 2 Corinthians 4: 1-10. The Gospeller was The Rt Rev’d Nixon A. Anekeme, Bishop of Niger Delta West Diocese which was taken from Matthew 28: 18-20.
The Litany was taken by The Rt Rev’d Dr Babatunde Ogunbanwo, Bishop of Ijebu South West Diocese and the Old Testament Reading was taken by Otunba Segun Demuren, Chancellor Diocese of Ijebu from the book of Isaiah 6: 1-8.
The Bishop of Ijebu Rt Rev’d Dr. Peter Rotimi Oludipe was excited to note it by appreciating the leadership of the Church Most Revd Henry Ndukuba for the honour done to the Diocese and the people of Ijebu land in hosting this very important service.
Korede Akintunde
CoN Communication Officer
Email: communication@anglican-nig.org
