As Peter Obi, Mbah, others honour Chukwuma’s valedictory service
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the outgoing Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, yesterday, have admonished Nigerians not to give up on the country in spite of the hardship they have been thrown into.
The duo who spoke at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Enugu during the valedictory retirement thanksgiving service and celebration of 34 years in the Episcopacy of Archbishop Chukwuma and wife, Joyce, noted that the situation in Nigeria was not encouraging but the people should not lose hope.
Obasanjo who eulogised Archbishop Chukwuma for the great work he did in the vineyard of God, lamented that hunger and insecurity had tore the country apart, worrying that the rate of suicide has increased.
“Let us not deceive ourselves, Nigeria is not what it should be. And for you and for me and for many that are here who are your age and above, we should thank God because this is a country where, if you are able to live up to the age of 50, you are lucky. With Boko Haram, with kidnapping, with IPOB, with banditry or whatever they call them, there’s so much that can take your life when you least expected. And now there is poverty raging, I was told that the rate of suicide has increased.
“One of my friends looking after a hospital with mental health said the increase of the number of people now coming to the hospital has increased, because they are worried about what they will eat, about security for themselves, for their family and their community.
“Let me say this, in spite of the bad situation we are in, as Christians we should never lose heart and we should never lose hope. To lose hope is to give up and there is no giving up in the vineyard of God. We must persevere, we must persist, we must go on until at first we complete the race and then we wait for the crown when we meet our creator.”
Talking about Archbishop Chukwuma, the former president said, “what shall we say, is it the work that you’ve done in Yorubaland or in Bauchi or here in Enugu which you may call your native land in a way? Today I was asking you, how come you speak the three main Nigerian languages so fluently; you speak Yoruba better than myself? And you gave me the background, because your father worked for P&T, you were in Zaria, you were Yoruba land, you are in Igbo land and you utilize the opportunity that God gave you to a great advantage. And the advantage manifested itself to what you have been able to do in the vineyard of God.
“But let me say this, you will be retiring but you are not tired. But more importantly for me, because if you do not serve humanity you cannot serve God and part of the work you have to do in the vineyard of God is service for Nigeria.”
He said that Nigeria needs his service even more now that he is retiring from service and urged not to relent in rendering such services when needed.
“So retired you will be but not tired and not out of job. Let me say this, I sought your advice this morning on the issue of security and you gave me a wonderful piece of advice. As they say in my part of the world I put it on my left palm so that I won’t use the right palm and eat it up. There are so many areas that this country will still need your service, I appeal to you never, never shy or relent from rendering such service.”
Delivering his valedictory sermon in the service that was also attended by the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Governor, Peter Mbah who was represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, officials of the Church of Nigeria and many Bishops including leaders of other Christian denominations, Chukwuma recalled his journey to the pinnacle of the church and his achievements.
Also lamenting corruption and bad leadership, the retiring Archbishop said: “But in all there is hope for Nigeria,” and urged the people not to lose hope but to assist those in authority to do better.