CHURCHOFNIGERIA
(Anglican Communion)
THEMOSTREV’D HENRY C.NDUKUBA, MABDMA (Ed)
Archbishop, Metropolitan, and Primate of All Nigeria.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE BISHOPS AND WIVES RETREAT OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) HELD AT ARCHBISHOP ADEBOLA AND MRS. OLURANTI ADEMOWO RESOURCE CENTRE,BARIGA, Lagos,BETWEEN JANUARY 9TH AND 13TH 2023.
Introduction
The Maiden Joint Retreat of the Bishops and Wives of the Church of Nigeria (AnglicanCommunion) which held between Monday,9th&Friday,13th January, 2023 under the leadership of the Archbishop,Metropolitan and
Primate of the Church of Nigeria-Anglican Communion,the Most Reverend Henry C. Ndukuba, DD, and his wife, Mrs Angela E.Ndukuba(MamaNigeria),which was attended by 300participants (Bishopsandtheirwives).Thejoint retreat, which was the first of its kind, also had in attendance two Bishops and their wives from Cameroon and Ghana. The retreat offered the Bishops and their wives an opportunity tot hank God for leading them through thechallenges of the previousyearwhilst entrusting the new year into his hands, trusting him to empower them for service and toprotect and shield them throughout the newyear. The retreat,. which began with the celebration of the Holy Communion (theLordsSupper),providedopportunitiesforprayerand worship,BibleStudy,aswellaslecturesandinteractivesessions.
Theme
Diligence in Serving the only TrueGod(John17:3-4) And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God,and Jesus Christ whom you hav sent. I glorified you on earth,having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.’
The focus of the theme,taken from Christ’s High Priestly prayer,the longest in the Bible,was on discerning the truetask of Jesus on earth and the calling of Bishops and disciples of the Lord,to show discipline unfulfilling the ministry into whichthey have been called,namely to show the way to eternal life, and to be diligently doing it.It calls on Christian ministers not to compromise their calling amidst the multifariouspractices within the modem day religious context. Rather they are to depend on the Lord’s word to sanctify them and his Spirit to empower them for diligentservice. In all. they are to make Jesus, who alone reveals the only true God,their only authentic example for ministry.
2023 General Elections
The Bishops and their wives prayed fervently for Nigeria, recognizing especially the very imminent General Elections starting in February,2023.
They call on Nigerians to be diligent, first in collecting their PVCs in the on going exercise, to enable them participate in the forth coming election, and to be conscientious in voting for the right people who can diligently serve the country and lead it out of its numerous social and political problems.They call on Nigerians to reject vote-buying politicians and exercise their franchise with a clear conscience and conviction. Everyone will be responsible for his or her actions and this is particularly important now that the country needs dedicated and sincere leaders to serve.
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)
The House urges INEC to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible and that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functions seamlessly.
The House also frowns on the incessant attacks on INEC offices, personnel and facilities and urges the people involved to desist from this act. It further calls on the Nigerian Security Services to provide adequate security for INEC before, during and after the election.
National Well-being of People
The House laments the level of poverty and demoralization in the land today noting that life has become incredibly hard for Nigerians, and to make ends meet is increasingly eluding many with unbearable inflation level, and weak power of the Nigerian currency.It calls on Government to put in place necessary measure to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.
Workers’ Welfare
The need to take workers’ welfare more serious has become more evident in recent times inview of the present hardship being faced all over the country.
Workers’ salaries are poor and inadequate to meet their needs.The lingering ASUU crisis on the payment of salary arrears has shown the insensitivity of government in dealing with the needs of its citizens,especially the university
lecturers.
The House calls on government to urgently address this issue and put an end to the suffering of the workers, which has led to dissatisfaction among the millions of workers and youths in the country,to the extent that many Nigerians have chosen to leave the country for greenerpastures.In the same vein, many doctors and nurses continue to leaveour hospitals while government appears helpless in stemming the tide to the disadvantage or detriment of the masses It is worrisome that various professionals are leaving their jobs forgreener pastures. The House appeals to government to urgently address this matter by providing good welfare package and resolve any lingering disagreements to aid stability in the education and other sectors of the economy,and to avoid brain drain in the land.
Quality of Education at all levels
The poor quality of education being encountered at different levels and places within our educational system is worrisome as a result of inadequate attention from the government and the dearth of educational facilities and qualified personnel many of whom have fled the country for greener pastures.The House calls on government to provide adequate facilities,qualified personnel and proper remuneration of teachers and support staff, to enhance the education sector
Youth and the‘JAPA’ Syndrome
The rate at which our youths are leaving the country owing to frustration and lack of fulfillment is alarming The JA-PA syndrome is unfortunately becoming most popular. Most disturbing is the inability of government to respond to this.The House calls on Government to urgently put in place mechanisms for redressing this trend before it is too late and before the country becomes impoverished, without capable humanbeings that can contribute to the human capital development of the land.
Insecurity
Church laments the terribly alarming and worrisome state of insecurity in practically all parts of the country to the point that many people have been tormented and some abducted from homes,on the roads,at schools and colleges, churches, at airports and train stations and even in military establishments. The House calls on government to take immediate and decisive action on effective means of tackling insecurity in the land.
Sustainable Policies
It has been observed that many national policies being developed in our country are non-sustainable because they are largely skewed to the
advantage of the governing ‘cabal’ while the majority of the people only suffer inconsequence. The House calls on government and originators of national policies to craft them with the overall interest of the masses at heart, so that the policies will be delivered without creating unnecessary hardship for the people.
Degenerating Family Values
As religious leaders, the House notes with utmost concern the breakdown of family values, resulting indomestic violence,cultism,banditry,suicide,increasinglevelofritualkilling,etc,manyofwhicharemotivatedbythecraze for wealth and power among the citizens,especially young people.This is against the traditional Christian values that honour the dignity and sanctity of the human life. It is lamentable that some religious organisations,
and family units, are contributing in no small measure to this menace because of their undue emphasis on prosperity and materialism.The failure to attain their unduly high expectations and desire to get rich quick has led many to wicked alternatives,such as going back to idolatrous practices another forms of social lills and religious vices.The House urges society to go back to teaching core moral values and religious teachings that emphasize reality, skills, hard work and reward.
It further calls on all church and ecumenical bodies to reject strange and superficial teachings that lackgenuine biblical foundation many of which have today crept into the various churches that appear to champion undue
emphasis on wealth-acquisition,among others.
AnglicanCommunion
The House affirms once again its commitment to the genuine reading, interpretation and application of the true Word of God to the lives of believers across the globe.It calls on the global Anglican Communion to embrace
obedience to the Word of God and esche wall forms of compromise and liberal tendencies that are capable of undermining the Living Word of God and its transforming impact on the lives of believers and the society as a whole.
Leadership as Bane of Society
The House recognizes the poverty of ideals and failure of leadership as the major factor responsible foremost of Nigeria’s socio-economica and political woes.It calls on leaders at all levels toshow firm commitment to people-oriented policies and effective response to the needs of the people.The House further calls on Christians to be true to their calling by living according to thespiritual and moral demands of their identity,as holy and beloved children of God, living in a perverse and wicked world. They should consciously live out their faith as light in the darkness of the world and salt on the earth.
Conclusion
In conclusion,whilst appealing to believers not to relent in their prayers for Nigeria, the Bishops and wives call on all and sundry to engage in practical acts that will bring about the restoration,progress,peaceandprosperitythat Nigeria desperately desires.
Furthermore, the House encourages Nigerians not to give up inthemidstof the current challenges, knowing that Nigeria belongs to God and He will not
abandon it.Rather He will make way for us;we only need to trust and wait for Him without wavering.“God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.Thereforewe will not fear…”(Psalm46:1-2).
TheMostRev’dHenryC.Ndukuba,MA,BD,MA(Ed.)DD
Archbishop,MetropolitanandPrimateofAllNigeria
