From Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia
The spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ and extension of God’s Kingdom on earth recorded a major milestone recently as over 1,200 clergymen of different ranks, as well as over 40 bishops from various dioceses of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, nationwide converged on Immanuel Church, Adazi-Enu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra for their 3rd session of the 10th Synod of the Diocese of Awka.
The annual ritual, among others, was to assess the milestones recorded in the evangelical mission of the diocese targeted at redeeming and saving lost souls to Jesus Christ.
It was also to identify the teething challenges with a view to applying appropriate measures where and when necessary; devising new means of casting Christ’s net into the ocean of sinners, x-raying the state of the nation and how it affects Christianity, as well as oiling the wheel of evangelism in the diocese, among others.
The five-day august occasion which lasted through 7th to 12th May, 2016 recorded a staggering number of Anglican faithful who came from the six geopolitical zones of the country.
As part of activities marking the synod with theme: “Living with Eternity in View,” it was kick-started with the public presentation of three books – Christian Living and Spirituality, Conservative and Liberal Discipleship in the Light of Holy Scriptures, and Worship and Witnessing – authored by the Bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr Alex Chibuzo Ibezim; as well as the presentation of the prestigious diocesan awards to 40 eminent Anglican faithful nationwide who had in one way or the other contributed bountifully to the growth of the church and the Nigerian society.
The awardees were Most Rev (Dr) Friday John Imaekhai, the Archbishop of Bendel Province who was presented with the Archbishops Award of Excellence for Missions (AAEM); Senator High Chief (Dr) Ben Ndi Obi, the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who received the Diocesan Medal of Distinction (DMD); HRM Igwe Dr Robert Chukwudilim Eze, the traditional ruler of Ukpo Kingdom in Dunukofia council area, awarded the Diocesan Medal of Distinction (DMD) and the mother of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke, Lady Dorothy Nwakaego Okeke, bestowed with the Diocesan Award of Honour (DAH), amongst 38 others who were drawn from various archdeaconries and parishes in the country.
Delivering his bishop’s charge, Rt. Rev. Alex Ibezim highlighted the gains and pains the diocese had encountered in the course of their evangelism.
Although he maintained that it has not been a bed of roses, he enjoined Christians to always hold tenaciously to the teachings of Jesus Christ irrespective of persecutions.
The cleric who spoke passionately on key issues of national importance called on the Federal Government to implement the N10 billion Green Wall Projects it mapped out for the Sudan and Sahel vegetation belt of Nigeria.
This, he said, would provide the needed grasslands for the grazing of cattle and regeneration of farmlands, as well as quell frequent clashes between farmers and the Fulani herdsmen which have led to the destruction of many lives and property in some parts of the country.
He warned that the Igbo may have to carry arms to protect themselves if the Federal Government fails to curtail the excesses of the Fulani herdsmen that terrorize the Igbo in their own land.
Hear him: “I want to remind the Federal Government of the official report that mapped out about N10 billion for the Green Wall Projects in the Sudan and Sahel vegetation belt of Nigeria to generate the needed vegetation and propose a solution to both grazing and regeneration of farmlands. That project must be taken seriously so that those that are grazing animals to destroy people’s crops will desist from that. Government has the responsibility to provide these grazing fields.
“And we want our people to know that it is important that we dwell as a community. Before, Fulani herdsmen carry sticks but now they carry AK47 rifle. The question we’re asking is: are these guns they are carrying properly licenced? Who gave them those guns? And if they’re properly licenced, the other people they’re destroying their goods should also be given AK47 to be properly licenced.”
This is even as he also appealed to the state governments to “conduct local government elections as it is a strong arm of government closest to the people.”
The church went in tumultuous joy when the bishop announced the sum of N2,470,000 as grant to five priests, one catechist, three secretarial and accounting officers, and one security staff who had no houses in their respective villages for them to commence construction of their own houses even as he announced the promotion of some priests, planting of new churches, among others in the diocese.
On the rationale behind his authorship of three books, Ibezim said: “The Bible made it clear that without knowledge my people perish. One of the areas that the church of God must straighten up, especially in these last days is to make sure that we create time to teach our people because the teaching ministry is dying. And people are always in haste. You see a lot of false doctorines springing up here and there. And people tend to cling to false doctrine rather than going through the scriptures for truth. So, part of my motivation for writing these three books which took me more than 15 years is to enrich the church of God so that believers will be well equipped.”
Speaking on the rationale behind the awards, the Diocesan Secretary and Head of Publicity, Sir (Barr) Felix Uzor and his Adazi-Enu Parish counterpart, Sir James Ezeume, noted that the awards were meant to encourage their recipients in their various humble efforts targeted at promoting evangelism and the social welfare of the public.
They maintained that the recipients were painstakingly chosen by the committee set up for that purpose even as they charged the awardees to continue to support the cause of evangelism.
Responding, Sen. Ben Obi thanked the diocese for singling him out with a few others in the sea of other eminently qualified members of Anglicans for the awards.
He disclosed that although he was initially reluctant about the award, he was encouraged by the fact that it was coming from God’s people.
“Like I said the bishop has been talking to me about it for quite some time and I was initially very reluctant about it. But you see, when you keep giving service in the vineyard of the Lord, a time will come when you will be given due recognition. I think the time has come and it just happened and we give God the glory. When you’re recognized by the Church, then it is better than being recognized by man” he said.
Also speaking, another recipient, Sir Austin Ezepue (Agadaaga) said: “I was given the honour of Diocesan Service Award and this is what I so much cherish because when you talk about service, serving God, you feel happy. Not merit, you merited. What makes you to merit it? What are the criteria for merit? But when you’re serving God and you are given the honour, you feel happy that you were serving God and that certificate was given to you. So, I feel happy.”
The synod was attended by Sen. Andy Uba of the Anambra South; Rt. Hon. Anayo Nnebe, the member representing Awka North and South in the House of Representatives, 40 bishops, including Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor who was represented by Monsignor Jerome Madueke; top government officials from the Anambra State government, top clergymen, among others.