Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, the Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, has said the harsh economic situation of the country has caused much pain and agony for many Nigerians regardless of government promises.
The man of God, who spoke in his sermon during the conservation of four new bishops for the church by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, Lagos.
Akinfenwa said, “Even if we say it is temporary, the truth is that people are in severe pain. And when people are pushed to tears, it is clergymen who offer their shoulders for people to lean on and cry upon.
“Despite all the noise of worship in the land, who is not embarrassed by the level of corruption, crime, and bad culture in the country? It is often said that a society gets the kind of leadership it deserves. Even the leader that was described as the epitome of integrity and the champion of anti-corruption, for eight years, corruption practically gave him a knockout.”
The newly consecrated bishops included the new Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos, Ifedola Okupevi; the new Bishop of Akoko Edo Diocese, Ebenezer Saiki; Venerable Collins Babalola of the Anglican Diocese of Ajayi Crowther and Venerable Festus Nwafili of Ndokwa Diocese.
Counselled the new bishops, saying: “Don’t be distracted. There is a lot of work to be done. This is divine recruitment. This should be taken as a challenge, not an achievement. This should be taken as a call to service.”
