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Tag: Bishop

  • Killings: Buhari treating herdsmen like kinsmen – Anglican bishop

    Killings: Buhari treating herdsmen like kinsmen – Anglican bishop

    The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of encouraging herdsmen attacks in the country with the way he (Buhari) treats them (herdsmen) like his kinsmen.

    Rising from its 2018 synod at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Amawbia, the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Dr. Alex Ibezim in his charge wondered why the Fulani herdsmen were being handled with kid’s glove.

    In the Bishop’s charge with the theme, ‘Mission, the heart of God,” the church urged Buhari to stop treating the killers with levity.

    The synod noted that a group that had killed thousands of Nigerians should not be treated as kinsmen.

    The church regretted that the return of democracy in 1999 that ought to be a kind of political liberation had been allowed to divide Nigerians into religious and ethnic cleavages.

    The charge added, “Nigeria, a major oil producer and Africa’s most populous nation and second-largest economy, is facing challenges. Most political parties are much more concerned about upcoming elections rather than the burning issues of the country.

    “Political liberalisation ushered in by the return to civilian rule in 1999 has allowed militants from religious and ethnic groups to pursue their demands through violence.

    “Separatist aspirations have also been growing, prompting reminders of the bitter civil war over the breakaway Biafran republic in the late 1960s.

    It added that Nigeria while still reeling from the Boko Haram insurgency and its numerous atrocities, another terrorist group, which he referred to as Fulani herdsmen, sprouted.

    The church said, “The group has done enough havoc to be acknowledged by the global community as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world.

    The church noted that between 2014 and 2018, herdsmen had killed over 1,229 people across the country with Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina as the worst hit states.

    The church added,” They are armed with sophisticated weapons and usually attack their target communities at a time they are most vulnerable such as at midnight or on Sundays when they are in church, killing people indiscriminately and burning houses and looting properties.

    “Most worrisome is the brutality and impunity with which the assailants operate without regard for the law and the sanctity of human life. The Nigerian police and even the military seem powerless to defend the victims from being mercilessly slaughtered in their homes.

    “It is unfortunate that this level of criminal impunity is happening in a sovereign nation with a constitution which declares that the security and welfare of the citizens shall be a major responsibility of the state.

    “Perhaps we need to ask why the police and the military are incapable of protecting the farmers from violent attacks by Fulani herdsmen. Is it true that the Fulani militias are better armed and sometimes outnumber the police?

    “Why is it difficult for the Federal Government to contain the terror of the Fulani militia? Who are those arming the Fulani herdsmen to unleash mayhem on innocent and defenceless Nigerians?”

    The synod wondered what President Muhammadu Buhari silence on the issue could mean, stressing that “Nigerians are tired of speeches and condolence messages to victims.

    They added, “If this country will continue to remain as one, then those who perpetrate crime must be dealt with accordingly without minding whose ox is gored.”

    On the 2019 general elections, the synod urged politicians not to pursue it “with senseless desperado and indiscretion.”

    It described Buhari’s anti-corruption fight as lopsided and ineffectual.

  • Five years after, Nigerian bishop whom Pope Francis fiercely defended resigns – Vatican

    A Nigerian bishop whom Pope Francis had fiercely defended has resigned after a five-year, sometimes violent, standoff with rebel priests and faithful who rejected him as an ethnic outsider, the Vatican said on Monday.

    The case of the Vatican versus the people of the diocese of Ahiara in southeastern Nigeria had become a rare battle of wills that tested the power of papal authority and could set a precedent for future appointments.

    A Vatican statement said the pope had accepted the resignation of Peter Ebere Okpaleke as bishop of the diocese of Ahiara.

    The vatican said the position had been declared vacant and that a papal administrator would run it for the time being.

    Many priests and faithful had refused to swear allegiance to Okpaleke because he is not from Mbaise, a heavily Catholic area in southwestern Nigeria made up of an amalgam of indigenous clans connected by intermarriage.

    Okpaleke was appointed bishop by then-pope Benedict in 2012, but the protests prevented him from ever taking over the diocese.

    His installation ceremony took place in another area of Nigeria because the doors of the Ahiara cathedral were locked so the bishop could not enter.

    The situation came to a head in June 2017 when Francis demanded that all priests in the diocese write him a letter within 30 days pledging their obedience to and accepting Okpaleke as their bishop because he was appointed by a pope.

    Those who did not write such a letter would face suspension from the priesthood, the pope told them at the time. Francis also demanded that the rebellious priests write a letter of apology to Okpaleke.

    Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency, on Monday, published excerpts from Okpaleke’s resignation letter, saying he had not been able to take possession of diocese or even live within its territory because of continuing “violent reaction and resistance”.

    Fides said some 200 priests had written to the pope promising their obedience.

    Many had also told the pontiff that they had “psychological difficulty in collaborating with the bishop after years of conflict”.

    The agency, which is controlled by the Vatican, said the rebellious priests should “reflect on the grave damage inflicted on the Church” through their “unreasonable actions opposing a bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff”.

    In his resignation letter, Okpaleke said remaining a bishop would not be beneficial to the Church.

     

    Reuters/NAN

  • Bishops, Pastors, others back anti-Buhari protesters, say ‘Resign if you can no longer function as president’

    Bishops, Pastors, others back anti-Buhari protesters, say ‘Resign if you can no longer function as president’

    …Says its time for him (Buhari) to open up to Nigerians on his health status

    Sequel to President Muhammadu Buhari’s ailing health, which has kept him permanently out of the country for over 90 days, some Bishops have advised him (Buhari) to resign to fully concentrate on his health to aide his fast recovery.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari traveled for medical check-up in London on Sunday, May 7, more than a month he came back into the country from a previous medical vacation.

    The bishops also reprimanded the Presidency for persistently refusing to disclose Buhari’s health status, saying they were in support of protesters demanding the President’s resignation.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that since Monday, the ‘resume or resign’ protesters — backed by a popular artiste, Charles Oputa (also known as Charly Boy) — had accused Buhari’s handlers of holding him captive.

    The protesters had also advised the President to demonstrate his “touted integrity” by resigning from office as it was evident he wasn’t physically fit to carry on the number one job in the country.

    Speaking on Friday at the second session of the Twelfth Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Owo, the Bishop of Owo Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Revd. James Oladunjoye, asked Buhari to resign and give room for another person to do the job.

    The bishop said the situation whereby the President had spent several months abroad had not helped the country, adding that it was wrong to conceal his (Buhari) health status as he was no longer a private person.

    Oladunjoye said, “We thank God for the President and for the way he had been ruling according to the law, but there is something wrong that we want him to address.

    “He has been ill for so many months in his tenure and so, is it not proper for the country to know his health condition as he is no more a private personality?

    “He is public property and if he is not strong enough to continue as the leader of this country, it is better for him to resign so that another qualified individual can take up the office legitimately.”

    Speaking based on his personal relationship with Oladunjoye, the Bishop of the Ibadan South Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Jacob Ajetunmobi, said his counterpart at the Owo Diocese was speaking based on the experience he (Oladunjoye) had.

    Ajetunmobi said Oladunjoye had had accidents which forced the latter to consider early retirement, adding that if a cleric could be forced to retire early because of his health, the President should also be able to do so.

    However, Ajetunmobi advised Buhari that should he decide not to resign, he should not contemplate running for the second term.

    Ajetunmobi said, “He (Oladunjoye) had separate accidents that led to him suffering from a broken hand. He had taken treatment in Nigeria but had to travel to the United States for more treatment. He is now being forced to retire early before turning 70 as a result of that.

    “He is speaking from personal experience that if health challenge will not permit him to function properly in his position, he would rather resign.

    “Acting President Yemi Osinbajo should be able to carry on with the administration of Nigeria. Buhari was one of those calling for late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s resignation then, but now, he knows that what goes around comes around. We should be careful what we wish others.

    “Here, I am a bit more radical in my opinion, but it is much more complex than we think. There are underpinning theological positions involved.”

    Asking Buhari not to consider running for a second term, Ajetunmobi said, “Buhari has about one more year to spend as President, but he should not think of coming back for a second term. The All Progressives Congress should think along and restructure its leadership or be ready to fail in 2019.”

    Also, the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese in Edo State, Most Revd. Gabriel Dunia, told one of our correspondents that while the constitution was silent about how long the President could be away after transferring his power to the Vice-President, an honest leader ought to voluntarily declare his inability to continue in office (when he is physically unfit).

    Dunia said, “A sincere person who wants to sincerely help but can no longer perform his function should be able to say, ‘I cannot perform this function anymore.’

    “So, there is no need pretending, unless the person is not honest. And if the person is not sincere, he is not out to help anybody. If I am helping somebody and I know that it is beyond my power to help again, I should be able to come out to say I cannot go further.”

    Dunia also described the Presidency’s prolonged silence on Buhari’s health status as deceptive.

    “That is deception; if they cannot tell Nigerians what is wrong with the President, who is their son, father, brother and friend, then the children (Nigerians) should know what is wrong with their father,” he said.

    The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Bishop Ransom Bello, indicated his support for the ‘resume or resign’ protest, insisting that it was high time the Presidency opened up on Buhari’s health status.

    The General Overseer, Christ Alive Power Assembly, Bauchi, Pastor Emmanuel Kanti, said the Nigerian constitution should be allowed to take its course in that Buhari should resign because of his illness.

    He said, “If the President is not strong enough to rule the country, he should give way to someone who is healthy and strong enough to rule the country.

    “The number one citizen of a country shouldn’t conceal his health status and put the whole country in dilemma; I think it is unfair. If he’s unhealthy, he should give way to someone else and stop being a ghost President. But if he feels he’s okay, he should come back and continue ruling the country.

    “In fact, the Presidency is playing on the intelligence of Nigerians and there is no reason whatsoever for doing that. They should just tell us the present state of our President.”

    Also speaking, a Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Christmas Mark, asked President Buhari to honourably resign if he was not fit to rule the country on health grounds.

    He said, “Nigerians have the right to protest in the sense that the President is not a secret position holder; it is not a position that is answerable to a community and inasmuch as he is the President of the country, he is answerable to the people. And the people want to see him at all costs.

    “So, it is not right for the Federal Government to hide him. What they should have done is to set up a medical panel to know his health status. Nigerians do not want information (again); they want to see him.

    “It can even be right for one to say that if he is not fit to rule, to ask him to resign is not out of place. The reason is that people want to see the person they elected. They voted for him to rule.

    “They voted for the President and the Vice-President to rule. Now we are seeing only the Vice-President. Inasmuch as we know the constitution, the Vice-President has limited powers. So, if the President is not fit or if he is incapacitated, let him honourably resign.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the presidency has however rejected calls for the president’s resignation, insisting he formally transmitted powers to the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo before embarking on his medical trip.

     

  • Pope Francis appoints Dechelem as Bishop of Bauchi Diocese

    Pope Francis appoints Dechelem as Bishop of Bauchi Diocese

    Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr Hilary Dechelem, parish priest of Church of Immaculate Conception Upper hill, Makurdi as Bishop of Bauchi Diocese.

    Rev. Fr Ralph Madu, General Secretary, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja announced this in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The ordination date for the Bishop-elect is yet to be announced.

    Dechelem was born on June 3, 1966 in the former Benue Plateau State.

    Madu informed that Dechelem is a native of Moeda–Kwalla from Kwampan Plateau and attended L.E.A Primary School, Kabala, St Catherine’s Makurdi and Central Primary School, Awe, Nassarawa State respectively.

    Dechelem had his Secondary Education at St Peters College Toto, St John Bosco, Doma and Government Secondary School Obi all in Nassarawa State.

    The Claretian Missionaries admitted him in 1986 at Nekede Owerri for Petulancy, had his first Religious Profession in 1988 at Utonkon, Benue and Final Religious Profession in 1993 at Maryland, Nekede, Owerri.

    The Bishop-elect was ordained priest in 1995 at Kwa Parish, Jos Archdiocese, had Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Claretian Institute of Philosophy in 1990, an affiliate of the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.

    He had a Master’s Degree in theology from Spiritan International School of Theology, Attakwu, Enugu in 1995 an affiliate of Duquesne University Pittsburg Pennsylvania, U.S.

    He also had a Master’s Degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska, U.S, and a Certificate Course in Spiritual Direction from Creighton University in 2014.

    He Studied Masters in Business Administration and Project Management Technology at Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo.

    He is presently doing his doctorate degree in Policy Analysis and Public Administration at the University of Abuja.

    He worked as Bursar and part time lecturer 1995 at the Claratian Institute of Philosophy, Nekede and was elected in the Provincial Council as Consulter of Economy 1999 and Consulter of Spirituality, 2005.

    The Bishop-elect was a member of the General Economic Council (GEC) of the Claretian Congregation in Rome 2003 to 2006.

    He was the Parish Priest Maria Goretti, Parish Ikenegbu, Owerri Archdiocese 2005 to 2010 and also Parish Priest St John Mary Vianney Parish Kwande, Shendam Diocese and Vicar for Religious 2010.

    He is a lecturer and a core team, Institute for Formators, Du, Jos, from 2015 till date.

     

     

    NAN

  • Catholic Bishop condemns Southern-Kaduna killings

    Catholic Bishop condemns Southern-Kaduna killings

    The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has condemned the recent killings of innocent lives in some communities of Southern part of Kaduna State.

    Kaigama, who is the President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), said this in an article titled: ”The Sacredness of Life Versus the Slaughter of Innocent Nigerian Citizens Today”.

    The article was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos.

    The cleric, who expressed worry over the wanton destruction of lives and property in Southern Kaduna, added that Nigeria had gone through difficult moments lately, hence in dire need of total peace.

    He said the attacks and counter attacks in southern Kaduna would rather aggravate Nigeria’s challenges, and would further impoverish the poor masses.

    The cleric said that no one had the right to take the life of another person at will, unless God, the creator and giver of life.

    ”At the New Year Mass on Jan. 1, I preached on the need to always show gratitude to God, correct the mistakes of our past.

    “And to value our civil leaders for little acts of mercy we were getting from their programme of political governance.

    “I also reminded Nigerians of the need for hard work and patience.

    “I, however, woke up this morning feeling depressed and angry; this is almost a contradiction to the spirit I had asked people to avoid in the New Year.

    “Many questions propped up in my mind as to our safety in our country.

    “If enough is being done to protect us; how long the hunger I see written on the faces of many widows, children and youths will last.

    “What of the inflation that has made life so miserable. What about the reckless and needless killings. How can human lives are so casually terminated.

    ”It is a pity that the younger generation in Nigeria is growing with an unfortunate impression that life is very cheap and can be taken away by anyone or group.

    ”We have had rough, tough and bad times when innocent Nigerians lost their lives as it is being experienced now in Southern Kaduna.

    ”Before now, it was Agatu, Madagali, Gwoza, Yobe, Plateau, parts of Taraba, Nasarawa, Anambra, Abia and other parts of the country and where next.’’

    He advised government at all levels to proffer solutions to these acts of savagery.

    The cleric commended the security agencies for responding swiftly to the Southern Kaduna crisis, and urged them to be highly professional and apolitical in the discharge of their duties.

    The Archbishop called on President Muhammadu Buhari to break the silence, adopt stringent and proactive measures to end the killings in Southern Kaduna and other crisis prone areas in the country.

  • Church of England appoints Nigerian, Karowei Dorgu as first black bishop in 20yrs

    The Church of England has appointed Nigeria-born Woyin Karowei Dorgu as its first black bishop after twenty years.

    Dorgu will be the 13th bishop of Woolwich and will be consecrated at Southwark Cathedral on 17 March.

    Dorgu, a trained medical doctor in Lagos before being ordained, was brought up in a Christian family but said as a teenager he rebelled against the gospel and left the church.

    Since his ordination, he has been a minister in London parishes.

    Speaking at a press conference at the Cathedral, Dorgu, born and brought up in Nigeria, and ordained in the UK, said he intends to encourage BAME [black and minority ethnic] vocations and more participation in ministry.

    He said one of his priorities as bishop would be to celebrate the racial diversity of the Woolwich area.

    Dorgu said, “I will celebrate the diversity in race, ability, gender, sexuality and class … Celebrating our differences is a gift.

    “My appointment is a small step in the right direction.

    “Quite a lot of Nigerian Christians [in the Woolwich area] are from an Anglican background. The only other black bishop in the Church of England is John Sentamu, now archbishop of York – second in the church hierarchy.