Johnkennedy Uzoma, Owerri
The Imo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) were among millions of people and groups that featured in the celebration of the 60th birthday of Bishop of Ohaji/Egbema Anglican Diocese, The Rt. Revd. Chidi Collins Oparaojiaku.
The event held with a special Thanksgiving Service at the St. Peter’s Cathedral, Umuokanne Ohaji, witnessed the Who is Who in the society, including a former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, and his wife, Barr. Chioma Ohakim.
Member of the House of Representative for Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru East Federal Constitutuency Hon. Kingsely Uju Chima was also in attendance.
The SWAN members used the historic event to present a master piece sculptural bronze as birthday gift to the Bishop.
Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who is the Grand Patron of National Leadership of SWAN, at the event, dramatically volunteered and presented the gift to the Bishop in a grand style.
Chief Ohakim was, in 2010 decorated as the association’s Grand Patron by the National Leadership of SWAN, in view of his immense contributions in sports development, growth and transformation not only in Imo state but Nigeria at Large as he piloted the affairs of the state from 2007 – 2011.
He used event to congratulate Mr. Everest Ezihe for his emergence as the vhairman of Imo State SWAN, while expressing gratitude to the association for remembering His Lord Bishop whom he described as a true servant of God.
He enjoined members of the association to remain focused and committed in the ethics and tenets of their Journalism profession.
Also speaking at the event, the co-Chairman of the Bishop Oparaojiaku’s 60th birthday cum book lunch planning committee, Engr. Raymond Ogara, who is a former president Council of Knight of Saint Christopher of the Diocese, described the celebrant as ‘God- sent’ in view of his contributions in the upliftment of the diocese and its populace.
Ogara recalled that the Bishop birthday which is an annual event was supposed to have been held in March this year but due to the Corona Virus pandemic the events were shifted as dated.
Ogara also opined that the diocese never taxed members for the celebration but rather few people, philanthropically, bank rolled the bills justifying their appreciation of the Bishop’s selfless services to humanity and Christendom at large.
He pointed out that the celebrant was also on a mission of converting the people to worship God in truth and spirit recalling how he discouraged most Christians of the diocese from attending their foremost Owu Cultural fiesta.
According to him, “Bishop Oparaojiaku has alleviated the sufferings of many indigent members of the diocese, and equally uplifted them spiritually through his educational and entreprenurship Foundations.
He said that it was through sheer hard work of Bishop Oparaojiaku that Umuokanne, which was a church rose to the position of a Parish with six churches and additional five new churches under the parish was planted.
He said that within a short period, the Bishop built the Parish into a Cathedral, geometrically expanding with lots of infrastructural developments.
Ogara, however, passionately appealed to the diocesans to give Bishop Oparaojiaku maximum support insisting that the man of God means well to Christendom and the populace.
In his comment, the traditional ruler of Assa Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Emma Assor, congratulated Bishop Oparaojiaku for reaching 60 years looking healthy and lively
The monarch thanked God for the life of the Bishop whom he described as a ‘good man’ who have come to salvage and proclaim the word of God in the Diocese.
He prayed to God to keep and give the Bishop more wisdom and grace to continue to work in his vineyard.