by; amaechi kingsley
The Anglican Diocese of Egbu over the weekend celebrated the first Enthronement Anniversary of Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Eyinnaya Okorafor as Bishop of the Diocese at the Cathedral Church of All Saints Egbu in Owerri North Local government, Imo State.
The Bishop, the Rt. Rev Geoffrey Okorafor who in his sermon during the thanksgiving / Honours award service identified greed and selfishness as the bane of the Nigerian Nation. Bishop Okorafor, noted that these constituted some of the problems militating against the progress of the Church and the country.
The cleric further explained that both Christians and Moslems today see every assignment given to them as an opportunity to amass wealth, stressing that God having given mankind different endowments and expected them to accomplish without placing self above the interest and welfare of the people has good purpose for mankind.
The Bishop observed that if Church members and political office holders were sincere, upright, Nigeria would be a more prosperous place for all to live in, stressing that no country in the world had been blessed at independence as Nigeria yet many graduates of this great nation roam the street unemployed and beggarly. He cautioned the political class to be mindful of their utterances which are capable of heating up the polity, and urged them to learn to play the game of politics without bitterness and rancor in order to move the nation forward.
Delivering a lecture titled; “Religious Tolerance and the Need for Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria”, the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representative, His Excellency Rt. Hon.Emeka Ihedioha, stated that no meaningful development can take places in an environment characterized by ethno-religious violence, hatred, suspicion and intolerance, adding that Boko Haram insurgency have recently demonstrated that they have the capacity to strike beyond the Northern region. He pointed-out that the Nigerian Government through security forces are making efforts to ensure the security of lives and properties and to also secure the release of the abducted female students of Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno State unhurt.
The Deputy Speaker further stated that the Church, Mosque, State and other agents of socialization have religious and moral obligations to preach peaceful co-existence and tolerance to ensure that justice reign, noting that the greatness of Nigeria as a Nation can only be measured by the capacity to manage our diversities, as he appealed to all aggrieved persons/group in Nigeria to embrace peace and dialog. Rt Hon Ihedioha also urged all segments of the country to take advantage of the relevant committees in the National Assembly to present their cases as he assured that there will be fair hearing and possible remedies.
The service was used to bestow the “Faithful Steward of Christ” Award on some remarkable achievers in the Church, across denominational divide. Among them were the Deputy Speaker of The House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, CON, Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi, member representing Owerri Municipal/North/West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and Prof Jude Njoku.
In attendance were the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese, The Rev Prof Emmanuel Iheagwam and his wife Mrs Ada Iheagwam, the Chief Judge of Imo State and Chancellor of the Diocese Justice Benjamin Njemanze and his wife, Dr Mrs. Joy Njemanze among other distinguished personalities.
