The Bishop of the Diocese of Awori, Anglican Communion, The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Johnson Akin Atere has called on all clergy and especially leaders to yield to their call to bring hope and encouragement as watchmen were to be on duty to avert anything untoward.
Baba Atere made this call at the service of the Holy Eucharist for the consecration of two new Bishops and the presentation of two Archbishops which was presided over by the Archbishop, Metropolitan and the Primate of all Nigeria, The Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba which was held on Tuesday 16th September, 2025 at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti where the procession started at 8am.
In the heart touching homily from Isaiah 62 verses 6 and 7, which calls for watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem to be on guard. Therefore, ” watchmen on the walls of the Church/Nigeria must keep watch”. He said Bishops, Archbishops and the Clergy are placed strategically to announce upcoming dangers and send warnings to guide the society against the ills.
He also stated that the call as Clergy men is for hope and encouragement as watchmen were to be on duty to avert anything untoward. The Anglican Clergy in Nigeria is expected to be on guard at all times as guardians of the Word. The concept of watchmen is spiritually instructive for us to know that the altar should be kept warm continuously. It is a place of fervent prayers meant only for Intercessors and Guardians of the sheep of God.Bishops, Archbishops should be constant and persistent in prayer so that the church can always prevail against Satan, the Archenemy.
According to him, knees should be close to the ground and strong in bending for the voice to be heard.
Examples abound in the Bible of people we can refer to as the Primates and Archbishops of their time: Abraham interceded, Moses did the same, Samuel in 1st Samuel 7 verse 5 did likewise for the spirit of revival, David prayed and made offerings for mercy, Ezra in Ezra 9 prayed and begged God, Nehemiah and Solomon prayed and fasted, these were men appointed as watchmen and were up to the task because they knew what to do in critical times.
Today, Bishops, Archbishops should take after these great men who were Guardians of the Apostolic faith, sound doctrine and preservers of the Church traditions. They should be ready to prevent heresies, should be courageous watchmen who will not and cannot remain silent in the face of pervading societal ills.
Bishops and Archbishops should ensure the unity in the body of Christ through their Episcopacy.
“Prayerless Archbishops and Bishops are of no value to God” he pointed out.
The preacher equally charged Archbishops and Bishops to be courageous and stand against the ills and errors of our political leaders and in our land generally by asking them to use different opportunities like wedding and funeral services to speak against injustice, cruelty, corruption and other vices in our land.
He praised the courage of our Primate The Most Rev Dr Henry Ndukuba for crying against the errors of our political leaders. He asked that the current Standing Committee Meeting should do more in this regard.
In addition, drawing from the example of Mordecai in the book of Esther chapter 4 who challenged Queen Esther not to keep quiet at a time when the lives of her people were endangered. He said church leaders cannot afford to be sleepers.
In conclusion, he begged the leadership of the church to bring up watchmen who would be diligent, humble and prayerful servants not mere sleepers who would be serving their ‘thrones’.
He rounded off by praying for a prosperous and secured Nigeria referencing Isaiah 62 verse 7.
The consecrated Bishops in the service were:
- The Ven., now The Rt. Rev. Adekunle Osungbeju (Osun North East Diocese)
- The Very Rev., now The Rt. Rev. Adebola Adedeji Ojofeitimi (Ilesha South West Diocese).
The Archbishops presented in the service were;
- The Most Rev. Marcus Ibrahim (Jos Province)
- The Most Rev. Cyril O. Odutemu (Bendel Province).
See photos below:
