Archbishop Onuoha urges govt to emulate church’s leadership style

• Archbishop Onuoha urges govt to emulate church’s leadership style

By Chukwuma Umeorah

Archbishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Grace, Most Rev. Sunday Onuoha, has urged the Nigerian government to emulate the church’s transparent leadership and its contribution to social development.

Onuoha made the call during his investiture and consecration ceremony in Lagos yesterday, where he stressed that government must be accountable and committed to the service of man and God so that the people could enjoy the benefits of good governance. He highlighted the Church’s longstanding leadership style that has been characterised by human development and social impact.

“Nigeria has survived till today because of the faith community. We are providing more educational opportunities for people more than modern government is providing; even in other critical areas, such as health and skills acquisition.

“The Church has done very well in managing all these responsibilities and I think that the government should find and learn how we manage and respect human beings,” he said.

He noted that many beneficiaries of the initiatives had grown to hold key positions in Nigerian society today. “We have never been preaching only about spiritual gospel without social action,” he said.

Onuoha, who was designated Archbishop of Special Duties, described his new assignment as a call to serve wherever the church deems necessary. “They can decide to send me to the moon, I will go. If they decide to send me to the sea, I will go. They can decide to make me walk along the street as long as it will bring growth for the church and bring about human development. So they’ve made me an archbishop beyond borders.”

Addressing the broader challenges facing the nation, particularly violence and persecution, Archbishop Onuoha urged the government to acknowledge societal challenges and collaborate with stakeholders to address them. “People are dying extra-judiciously everyday, it doesn’t matter whether you call it persecution or genocide. Once we accept that reality, then we can come together to find solutions.

Nigerian government must accept the fact that we have problems. The world is a global family and we cannot be treated in isolation. It is to the benefit of the global community that Nigeria is at peace,” he said.

He also offered counsel to Christians facing trying times, emphasising faith, service and moral responsibility. “We are placed in the world to overcome what is of the world. And how do we do that? We can do that by manifesting the spirit of grace.”

The investiture ceremony, headed by the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Oliver Aba, saw the consecration and vesting of two Archbishops, including Onuoha and Most Rev Ibrahim Chindo of the Archdiocese of Kaduna and Bishop of the Diocese of Kaduna.

Six new bishops were also invested, namely Very Rev. Kenneth Nwiabubari, Chikaodiri Eke, Stephen Ogolo, Elijah Ndeayo, Friday Iyetu and Clement Shaminga of Diocese of Ikono, Kano, Wesley, Ikono, Gokana South and Gboko, respectively.

Delivering the sermon, Archbishop of Ebonyi, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Chikwendu Igwe, quoted John 15:16 to encourage ministers to embrace their calling and bear fruit in their ministries.

He reminded ministers that divine calling comes with accountability and the need to maintain a close relationship with God. “Being a bishop is not easy. You must be intentional, deliberate and maintain intimacy with God, because only those who have a relationship can access the secret place of the Most High,” he said.

The church’s Prelate, Dr. Aba, having carried out the rites, also delivered a message of hope and service, reminding the clergy that their elevation was not for prestige but for dedicated service to God and humanity. “You must have a relationship with the Father. You must trust God and depend on Him.”