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Tag: Anglican Church

  • Anglican Church denies endorsing any candidate

    Anglican Church denies endorsing any candidate

    The Anglican Diocese of Aguata in Anambra State has denied endorsing any governorship candidate ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

    In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Communications, Abuchi Nwozor, the Diocese described as false and misleading the viral social media photographs suggesting that the Church, under the episcopal leadership of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor had endorsed a particular candidate.

    The statement emphasised that the Diocese has not—and will not—align itself with any political party or individual, urging the public to disregard the images, which it said were a deliberate attempt to drag the Church into partisan politics.

    Read Also: Celebrated on two continents: Akinmulero bags House of Lords humanitarian award, another in Nigeria

    It also cautioned politicians against desperation for power, advising them to prioritise the public interest and the well-being of the masses rather than resorting to manipulative tactics.

    “What the Diocese of Aguata earnestly desires is a free, fair, and credible election,” the statement read.

    The Diocese further assured that the Church would continue to pray for peace and transparency throughout the electoral process.

    The declaration, co-signed by the Diocesan Clerical Synod Secretary, Rev. Canon Uzochukwu Mojekwu, also called on political actors to refrain from using the Church as a platform for political gain.

    “The Church is a sacred place where spiritual authority is sought through prayers—not a venue for political campaigns,” it added.

  • Anglican Church sacks four priests

    The Diocese of Isiala Ngwa, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, headquartered at St. George’s Cathedral, Umuomainta, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, has reportedly dismissed four priests for engaging in homosexuality.

    This was contained in a notice of dismissal which allegedly emanated from the Bishop in-charge of the Diocese, Rev. Temple Nwaogu, to all the church branches under it.

    The notice identified the dismissed priests as Rev. Emmanuel Nwankwo, Rev. Kelechi Nwachukwu, Rev. Sunday Azubuike and Rev. Chris Achonye.

    The notice said the licenses of the accused priests had been withdrawn following an investigation and recommendation submitted by the panel of enquiry who found them guilty of homosexual practices.

    The release also warned the public against dealing with the dismissed priests.

    The dismissed priests could not be reached for comments and Bishop Nwaogu, who promised to get back to our reporter, did not do so as at last night.

  • Anglican Church Ikosi-Ketu is 40

    All Saints’ Anglican Church, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos is 40 years old. To celebrate the event, the church has unveiled month-long activities.

    According to the church’s Anniversary Committee Chairman, Dr. Ademola Ogunleye, the church started on March 11, 1979 with 13 men, supported by All Saints’ Church, Yaba (the mother church).

    It was with this number that it grew to over 4,000 members and has become the headquarters of Ikosi Archdeaconry with over 30 Archdeaconries that make up Lagos West Diocese.

    The celebration, which started on March 10 with unveiling of the anniversary logo, continues on Easter Monday with community development initiative/sanitation and picnic/love feast, Women’s programme for the family on April 23, special anniversary hour and talk/test on prostrate on April 24.

    On Thursday, April 25, there will be an health screening on malaria parasite, BP, Blood Sugar, eye screening by the Eye Foundation Medical Centre, and on Friday, April 26 Bible Quiz.

    The following day, church members will visit the less privileged home,and hold a novelty match, symposium/lecture: “The church as facilitator in national  transformation: Setting the agenda for law, polity and economy.’’

    The celebration would be rounded off next Sunday with the launch of a book entitled: “The Story of a Worshipping Church-Glorifying God at Forty” and a grand reception.

     

  • Election: ‘Anglican Church committed to better Nigeria’

    The Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has restated its commitment to better Nigeria.

    Speaking on behalf of the church in Lagos, during a press briefing, the Lord Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Rt. Rev’d Dr.James Olusola  Odedeji, said that the church committed huge resources in order to make the country have credible elections.

    The cleric, who described the participation of  the Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), in ensuring credible elections as expensive, said the church deployed 300 well-trained observers to cover all the nooks and crannies of the state, mobilized 40 buses and drivers and drafted the church dignitaries to man situation room, taking complaints wherever there was any and communicating same to the INEC, Lagos office.

    According to him, the church had earlier trained observers before the election with the assistance of INEC officials. “Despite the cost, as has been our tradition since we started in 2007, we did not seek, nor obtain any form of support whatsoever from any quarters. It is our concept, our commitment.

    “We are determined to join other stakeholders in sanitizing the political landscape of Nigeria. Nigeria must be restored. It used to be a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey before leaders turned to dealers and selfishly invaded the space with a view of acquiring our common patrimony for private ends,” he said.

    Odedeji told The Nation that when the church realized that there was no bond between the leader and the led, the church organized a debate which was well attended by 12 candidates contesting to be governor of Lagos State.

  • Obiano mulls allowance increament for NYSC members

    Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano had disclosed his government plans to increase the allowances of serving corps members posted to rural and hard-to-reach areas of the state.

    Obiano made the disclosure while addressing 2018 Batch ‘C’ corps members in Umunya Temporary Orientation Camp, Oyi local government area of the state.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwelobelu, the governor said the incentive was to raise the corps members’ morale for more commitment in the discharge of their duties.

    He said, “We note with pride that Anambra state gives the highest remuneration to Corps members posted to the state.

    “We are working out modalities to offer differential payment of allowances in their favour in order to further encourage those in the rural/hard to reach areas of the state.”

    He further charged the NYSC members to abide by the electoral laws and refused being used by desperate politicians for their ulterior motives ahead 2019 elections.

    “You must emulate your predecessors who were unbiased umpires in previous elections. You must not fail the nation which reposes lots of confidence in you” he said.

    Obiano restated his continued provision of adequate security and welfare to the corps members during the elections and the remaining part of their service year.

    He also reassured the readiness of the permanent orientation camp site before the end of the year to enable the next batch have their orientation course in the new site.

    Earlier, NYSC Coordinator in the state, Kehinde Aremu, said prospective corps members who were supposed to serve in the state were moved to Ebonyi and Imo states due to insufficient camping facilities.

    He regretted that the present site owned by the Anglican church had become grossly inadequate considering the number of prospective corps members posted to the state.

    Read Also: Obiano’s wife admonishes parents on girl-child education

    He said, “Sadly, corps members deployed to Anambra will be holding their orientation course in Imo. Earlier this year, Anambra corps members were dislodged to Ebonyi and Imo states.

    “This is because Anambra is the only state in South-East of Nigeria without a permanent orientation camp.

    “I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to the vibrant private sector in Anambra to complement the efforts of the state government towards delivering the orientation camp in Umuawulu/Mbaukwu for 2019 Batch A.”

    Aremu explained that posting of the corps members was guided by the scheme’s policy and requests from deserving employers which fitted into the human capital development strategy of the state government.

    He said the corps members had been trained with fitness drill and entrepreneurial skills as well as the culture of the people to enable them to contribute maximally to the communities they were posted for primary assignment.

    The coordinator also thanked the state government, the Anglican Church and other partnering agencies for their support and success of the orientation course.

  • Obiano doles out N.3billion to mission schools

    Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has donated the sum of N357,136,875 to no fewer than 729 mission schools belonging to the Catholic and Anglican churches in the state.

    While N211,168,125m was given for the reconstruction of 433 schools handed over to the Catholic Mission, N145,968,750m was given to to upgrade 296 of infrastructure to schools belonging to the Anglican Church.

    Presenting the cheques at different occasions in the state, Obiano described basic education as fundamental for the complete formation of the child.

    He revealed that the money was given according to the number of schools handed over to the missions, promising sustaintance of the donation to the mission schools throughout the duration of his tenure.

    While commending the churches for the judicious utilization of funds released initially by his government, the governor urged them to focus on schools in the rural places under the present phase,

    “The partnership with the Church in the area of education is yielding the desired result as the funds released have been put to good use.

    “We are also focusing on teacher’s welfare to complement the efforts in infrastructural development,” he said.

    The Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha said the partnership of government with the Church would help the state achieve its vision of availing students in the state globally competitive education.

    The Archbishop and Metropolitan, Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, and the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most Reverend Chukwuma, received the cheques on behalf of the Catholic and Anglican churches respectively.

  • EFCC: Anglican Church defends Ekweremadu over threat

    The Anglican Church, Enugu Diocese on Monday came in defence of the deputy senate president, Ike Ekeweremadu over the threat by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to question him on discrepancy in his asset declaration.

    Led by  the Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Diocese (Anglican Communion) Dr. E O Chukwuma, Archdeacons and Canons of  the Province paid a solidarity visit to Ekweremadu at his Enugu residence.

    After the delegation offered prayers, Archbishop Chukwuma who spoke on their behalf said what the deputy senate president was  going through “is a vindictive act; a jealous spirit against the leadership of the Igbo politicians and against us as Christians.”

    Said Chukwuma:“We are here to tell the world that you are a true child of God who nobody should find a way to rubbish.  As far as we are
    concerned with your credibility and integrity, we have not heard since you started your journey as the local government chairman, moving to becoming Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of Enugu State to what you are now, there is no record, and nobody has ever heard that
    you stole money anywhere.

    “When we had the list of those, up till now, published of those who ate money in the 2015 election, we didn’t find your name there and so we are embarrassed when they say EFCC. What is EFCC looking for? EFCC should please leave Ekweremadu alone because his name was never
    mentioned anywhere.

    “We feel that this is a vindictive act; a jealous spirit against the leadership of the Igbo politicians and against us as Christians. EFCC should stop intimidating people if we are going to have a good democracy in this country. They should stop this idea of witch-hunting.

    “You have been a stakeholder in PDP and you have remained firmness; you have not cross-carpeted and you will never cross-carpet and so they should leave you alone.

    “As far as we are concerned as the Anglican Church, we stand behind you. We call on the Federal Government to leave Senator Ike Ekweremadu alone and stop witch-hunting him for nothing. This is witch-hunting and we have no apology for the Federal Government. But what we say is that they leave us alone. All we want is peace in Nigeria, and you cannot continue to stand firm in fighting for the unity of Nigeria and somebody is trying to intimidate you.

    “You are a Senator that has done very well in his senatorial zone and is in constant touch with his constituency. Other senators should emulate you. We will very much support you in prayers and we are proud of you.

    “If anybody touches you, they are touching the eyes of God; they are touching the eyes of Ndi’Igbo and we shall not take it for granted.
    They should allow peace to reign and Mr. President should please warn the security people. The security people should please know where to go. Benue and Plateau have been burning and nobody has gone there to lay siege.

    Read Also: EFCC invites Ekweremadu again over assets

    “All the defections are a result of people saying they are tired of this government. It is a negative report. Jonathan withdrew and exited
    for peace to reign.

    “There is no peace, there is no security, the economy is bad, there is no employment, and the appointments in this government are all
    northern and northern. We are being marginalised and we cannot stop saying it. South East is being marginalized and now it is victimising our own very best person, we will not take it.

    “We pray that God Almighty will touch their hearts because if care is not taken, the way things are going now will result into a serious,  not only religious war, but a serious war that will never make Nigeria to be united. So, to save Nigeria, we must renegotiate it and restructuring must come. That is where we stand for peace to reign.

    “We appeal to Mr. President, the security agencies and EFCC to leave Senator Ekweremadu alone; they should leave our people alone. South
    East is being marginalised and we are crying and saying please, give us our due reward, Nigeria belongs to all of us. If not, then let us go back to our places and let us stay on our own”.

    Ekweremadu thanked the clergymen for their visit and informed them of his resolve alongside his colleagues to ensure that the nascent democracy we are enjoying today is not truncated.

    He assured them that he would continue to ensure that the fundamental
    human rights of the masses of Nigeria was constitutionallyprotected.

  • Cleric urges Christians to emulate Christ’s exemplary life

    A cleric, Rev. Maxwell Onyia, has enjoined Christians to emulate the exemplary life of integrity demonstrated by Jesus Christ while on earth.

    Onyia, who gave the advice on Sunday while delivering a homily at Anglican Church of Ascension, Enugu, said that Jesus Christ shunned the life-style of cheat, fraud and other social vices.

    The title of the homily was: “Life of Integrity: The Master’s Life-Style.’’

    The cleric said that all Christians should shun life-style of cheat, fraud and always keep to agreements and partnership.

    “A Christian should not do or act in a manner that will put his trust and integrity to question.

    “Jesus calls us to integrity, which means we are to be true to our words as a testimony to our faith in Him.

    “Everything we do as children of God must be show integrity, truthfulness and honesty as we are representing him, who is living in us,’’ he said.

    According to him, in practice, integrity produces honour, truth and reliability.

    “This is essential in developing deeper relationship and confidence with God and fellow man.

    “It is all about living truthful and sincere life,’’ Onyia said.

    The cleric, however, prayed for the spirit of truth and integrity to be impacted on the leadership of the Church and political office holders across the country.

  • Killings: Anglican Church urges FG to seek military assistance abroad

    The Anglican Church, Nigeria on Monday expressed grave concern over the continued killings of innocent Nigerians by herdsmen in some parts of the country despite all security measures being put in place to check the menace by the federal government.

    It declared that shedding of innocent blood is against the law of God and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and must not be accepted by Nigerians.

    As a way out of the problem, the Church advised the federal government to seek for international assistance to help Nigerian military in the campaign against insurgence with a view to protecting lives and property in the land.

    In his address at the Second Session of the seventh Synod of St. Paul Anglican Church, Yemetu, Ibadan, on Monday, the Archbishop of the Ibadan Anglican Diocese, Most Reverend Segun Okubadejo described the current security challenges in the country as very worrisome.

    Since the killings started some years back, Nigeria state has now become a theatre of bloodbath, and a country that eats her people, he said.

    The Clergy man recalled with nostalgia that Boko Haram insurgency has been on for almost ten years, until recently the herdsmen joined the killer terror group and worsen the situation.

    Read Also: Anglican church charges Buhari on fight against corruption

    Archbishop Okubadejo stated that the excesses of the terrorist groups have resulted in the loss of lives of   people across the country, especially in the North East, Benue, Kaduna, Jos, and other parts of the country.

    He therefore advised that if the government is truly incapacitated to deal with the situations, help should be sought from countries with the capacity to deal with the situations on hand.

    “In the meanwhile, the military should be told in clear terms by the Commander-in-chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to always apply the rules of engagement in their operations and to endeavor to clamp down on all criminally minded organizations in the country,especially the killer herdsmen that have done a lot of harm and havoc to this nation and her citizens . The Federal Government should not be seen to have been compromised, or seen to be confirming the rumour of complicity either by action or inaction on security matters”, Archbishop Okubadejo said.

    While allaying fears on the rumoured complicity by the federal government in the killings, Archbishop Okubadejo drew the attention of the federal government to the need to ensure fairness to different ethnic groups across the country in the distribution of public offices, adding that this could be one of the reasons for tension and agitations in the land.

  • Anglican church charges Buhari on fight against corruption

    Anglican church charges Buhari on fight against corruption

    The Anglican Church of Nigeria has charged the federal government to re-examine some of institutions and structures put in place to fight corruption with a view to strengthening the institutions and ensuring that corruption is reduced in the country. The church expressed dismay that despite attempts by some past and present leaders to uproot corruption, the fight against corruption has not been successful in the land.

    Speaking at the second session of the third synod of the Anglican Diocese of Omu-Aran , Kwara State , the Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Church, Rt. Reverend Philip Adeyemo, said it was saddening to state that rather than abating, corruption has continued to spread. In his paper with the theme: “A curse is not without cause”,  Adeyemo blamed the situation on greed, selfishness, wickedness and partiality among the leaders .

    “It means that we have not gotten the best way to fight and win corruption in this country. We need to examine some of the institutions and structures put in place at federal, states and local government levels which make corruption intractable in the country. For example, Nigeria is a country where fund is being disbursed to the federal, states and local governments every month without proper system of monitoring the spending,” the clergyman said.

    According to him, Nigeria cannot witness growth and stability unless there is a fearless  leader with integrity that is determined to fight corruption without compromise. “Therefore, to have a Nigeria where no man is oppressed and where peace and justice reign, we need leaders of integrity and not treasury looters,” he stated.

    Reverend Adeyemo also suggested that governance at all levels should be made less attractive financially if the leaders were truly determined to fight and win corruption in the country. He called on President Buhari to do everything within his power to rid the country of corruption and corrupt leaders and public officials before leaving office.