History was made in Rivers State yesterday with the inauguration of two new Dioceses of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.
The ceremonies, which included the enthronement of new Bishops, were witnessed by the Governor Siminalayi Fubara, himself a Knight of the Niger Delta Diocese.
The inauguration took place with two key enthronements Rt. Rev’d Boma Peter Briggs as the Bishop of Kalabari Diocese in Abonnema and Rt. Rev’d Richard Ngozi Okpara as the Bishop of Omoku Diocese in Omoku.
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Speaking at the Kalabari Diocese inauguration, Fubara, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Benibo Anabraba, encouraged the Church to remain steadfast in service to God and humanity.
He urged the Church to “keep interceding for the State’s peace and progress” and continue to be the moral compass of society.
“This gathering shows that the Church is moving on, and the gates of hell can not prevail. I congratulate you and assure you that as long as the Church is moving on, the works of God will continue to endure,” the governor’s representative stated.
The Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, encouraged the congregation to rally around and support the newly enthroned Bishops, stressing that God always uses men to do His work.
In a sermon themed, ‘Focusing On God’s Mandate And Agenda,’ taken from John 1:6-7, the Bishop of the Diocese of Kaduna, Rt. Rev’d Timothy Yahaya, advised the congregation to work in unity and ensure they do not give the new Bishops “wrong advice, you must not give him selfish advice or advice that will pull the diocese apart.”
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He also admonished the new Bishops, stating: “As a Bishop, you must make sure everyone has a sense of belonging. They must not see you as favouring one over the other. You are the father of all.”
