By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu
The Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Anambra State, last weekend, organized a three-day historic commemoration of her 160 years of experience and 160 years of the consecration of Samuel Ajayi Crowther as the first Bishop in Africa.
The Primate, Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev Dr Henry Ndukuba entreated the diocese not to relent in keeping the flame of the Gospel alive.
The Primate gave the encouragement Friday, June 28, 2024 after inspecting a guard of honour by the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade of the diocese as part of the events marking the commencement of the three-day celebration.
Primate Ndukuba who was represented at the occasion by the Bishop of Lokoja, Kogi State, His Grace, the Most Rev Dr Emmanuel Egbunu, expressed profound appriciation of what impact he said Diocese on the Niger was making in the spread of the Gospel.
His words:Â “In this celebration, I urge you to not allow the flame of the Gospel to drop off, but to continue to take it on from one stage to another”.
“May I congratulate the to Diocese on the Niger, the historic and mother dioceses of many others that you have kept your memory a very historic event of the consecration of the first Black Bishop of contemporary times, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, 160 years ago, precisely on the 29th of June, St Peter’s Day, 1864.
“That, we are standing here today, not talking about a touch and batton that has been dropped but that has been continued and glowing brighter. It’s a thing of joy to us and glory to God.
“It is also note worthy that the display you’ve done this morning shows that the progress recorded is not just the work of the bishop and the clergy only, but that all and sundry have joined hands”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, the Most Rev Dr Alexander Ibezim who represented the Primate during a courtesy call on the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Achebe, thanked Onitsha community for opening doors for evangelism when they did.
According to Archbishop Ibezim, “I bring the message of the goodwill of the Primate and congratulations to you because whatever we celebrate today, is because this community opened their arms to welcome the Gospel.
“That Ajayi Crowther was made a bishop about 160 years ago, is because there was a story to tell, because he didn’t become a bishop in one day.
“What was impossible for other missionaries that came, the time he and some of your own sons who came and preached the Gospel, by the time they were received, it was, indeed, clear that the Gospel was welcomed here.
“What we celebrate is not just that he was consecrated, but that, that welcome to the Gospel also meant welcome to life. This is because there were some obnoxious practices that would have made many people not be alive. But because of the interaction with God who gives life, who spares physical life and gives spiritual life, we celebrate that today.
“We believe that when a good thing happens, it should not pass with time. One hundred and sixty years have passed and we still remember a good thing that happened, and 160 years from now, we still remember more good things happening because that first good thing happened.
“We therefore bring you greetings from the Church of Nigeria and we congratulate you and pray that God who is the King of Kings will uphold you”, he added.
He however pleaded that in order not to allow the sacrifices of the early church fathers to be in Vain in the community, the Igwe should be cooperative enough to lend his weight to the spread of the Gospel in his domain.
The Primate appealled to the Igwe to throw his political support and strength to the Gospel the way the Igwè that was sitting on the seat opened the door and accepted early Christian Missionaries.
“This is the time, when we, as Church, need that support”, he emphasized and prayed for the long life and success of the igwe, wishing him heaven after his glorious service to God and humanity on earth.
Responding to the Primate’s speech, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Achebe highlighted what assistance he said he and the community had rendered to the church, saying that he believed that after all, “the church and the community are one.
“Both ought to work together and support each other”, he explained and while giving example of such report, he said that during the period of the COVID-19, the church and the community worked together.
“Now, that there is hunger in the country, in the mist of plenty, we have hunger, we want us to put our heads together to find out what to do, because if there’s hunger, there’s anger.
“There’s always correlation between violence, inequality and injustice. The church must speak against injustice and inequality while we, community rulers, will do the same thing”, Igwe Achebe said.
He disclosed that already the traditional rulers in the South-East usually met to find the way forward for the good of everyone by discussing peace, development and justice.
The igwe thanked Bishop Owen Nwokolo for taking up the initiative of commemorating the 160 years of both the consecration of Crowther as Bishop and 160 years of the anniversary of the Diocese on the Niger.
Bishop Nwokolo had while appreciating the Igwè on behalf of the diocese, presented the igwe a large portrait of himself where he is flanked by all the bishops that have worked in the Diocese on the Niger starting from Samuel Ajayi Crowther to date.
Over 18,000 Anglicans and other Christian faithful attended the occasion of the joyous historic two-in-one anniversary among over 30 Anglican Bishops and hundreds of priests from within and beyond the diocese.
It’s on record that the three-day historic commemoration of 160 years of the consecration of Samuel Ajayi Crowther as the first Bishop in Africa and the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese on the Niger has come to an end with a plea for christians to endeavour to emulate the person of Crowther.
The event which was powered by the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Anambra State, was marked at the All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha, between Friday June, 28 to Sunday 30, 2024.
Primate Ndukuba further noted:Â Â Â Â Â Â “Having man’s commendations without heaven’s applause brings eternal condemnation. We need God’s commendation more than man’s applause”, he added.
He encouraged christian Faithful to be diligent and focused in their Christian life praying, “As we celebrate the person like Ajayi Crowther, whose ministry was a ministry of great passion, may God rekindle your passion in the name of Jesus”.
He commended the Bishop on the Niger, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo for initiating and executing the anniversary and encouraged him not to relent in his present drive for the dissemination of the Gospel.
Also in his brief speech, the Governor of the state, Prof. Charles Soludo, having recounted some virtues of Bishop Crowther, hoisted his qualities as ideals towards which he said Christians should genuinely aspire.
“Crowther lived a life without boundaries, a life that knew no bounds, no discrimination, and lived for others.
“That is the whole essence that I want to emphasize that we must all take home. Where is the Ajayi Crowther in you as you deal with others?”, the governor queried.
In the same vein, the former Governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi, called on every Nigerian to acquire and develop the qualities for which he said Crowther represented.
The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Elections who spoke through one of his principal aids, Hon Azuka Enemuo, said, “We should all walk in the mould of Bishop Ajayi Crowther.
“We know our nation is in a critical stage. We will always pray that the New Nigeria we seek for will come in our time”, he said.
In his brief vote of thanks, Bishop Nwokolo expressed very deep appreciation to all the guests for attending the anniversary and equally commended his team of ministers and their congregation for collectively making the event a success.
