… As embattled Bishop plans kangaroo consecration of Cathedral
By Our Correspondent
All is set as the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion Sapele Diocese, commenced its 2016 Synod come July 2016, at the St. John Anglican Church Amukpe Sapele, Delta State, just as the embattled Bishop, Rt. Rev. B.A Erifeta (JP), allegedly plans to consecrate St. Luke Cathedral Sapele headquarters of the diocese same day.
The duo of Mr. Alex Ikomi, Chief Julius Okparavero both members of the cathedral Boyo road and Chief Gogomeje Omatseye a member of the St. Johns Anglican Church Amukpe in their separate interviews alleged that the 2016 Synod which has been fully planned by the embattled Bishop is a sham and a falsehood designed to deceived the world that all is well in the diocese whereas it is not.
They claimed that Bishop Erifeta is not their Bishop, rather, they said he is an impostor, explaining that the Synod cannot see the light of the day, and it will fail like the one in Jeddo, noting that those supporting him do not understand his nature as an evil man.
They said “we do not know him, because here in Sapele we do not support evil” The Amukpe community and members of St. John Church have rejected him. We do not know how he is going to achieve this, it is a Synod of falsehood”.
They called on the members of Sapele diocese to stand for the truth which they said can save the Church, emphasizing that “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, who ever come unto him shall never die, adding that the members should be loyal to God only but not unto man, revealing that their Bishop whom they have disowned since last year is a crock and he alone forced himself a the Bishop of the Diocese whereas he ceases to be since last year February 2015.
The people also claimed that the seat of the Bishop of the Sapele diocese remains vacant since last year when the Bishop arrogantly turned his staff of office upside down pouring curses on the elders of the diocese, adding that no matter how he tries, the world should know that he will continue to fail and those who are helping him to stay as the Bishop of Sapele will loose their seat be he Bishop or primate as they are supporting him to further frustrate the church” they said.
Meanwhile, an audited financial records of the Sapele diocese, which was prepared by a group of persons within the diocese, known as “Jesus Christ Patriots” through their rented auditors and made available to journalists in Sapele, revealed that between January 2009 till date, under which the diocese has being in existence, over N673,152,553,79 was realized as income under Bishop Blessing Erifeta’s administration, whereas of the above amount N101,616,705 was spent by Bishop Erifeta as his expenses excluding his salary/allowances.
The records also alleged that within the period under review, salaries and allowances of Priest and other workers are unpaid as statutory deductions ( taxes and co-operative) from workers salaries are not remitted to government cooperative account, as over 70% of churches income are used to pay assessment while substantial part of the rest is used to pay Priest Meagre welfare allowances with almost nothing left for church development.
They explained further that while the poor members of the church labour to pay tithe and offering, their Bishop proceeds by squandering church money with pride, arrogance and pomposity which they added are not the virtues of a Christian which is the character of the leader in diocese of Sapele.
They also added that rather than show humility and pray to God to bless members, he prefers to abuse and insult elders of the church and as well place curses on perceived and imaginary enemies pointing out that the diocese which is the oldest in Sapele is now the least developed spiritually, physically and materially among other churches around as their membership has dwindled over time.
Meanwhile the Bishop is not available for his own comment as non of his phone lines was available as at the time of filing this report and when contacted on phone Senior Clergy who do not want is name on print within the diocese corroborated the claims of those who spoke on behalf of the members appealing to their higher authority of the Anglican Communion to intervene.
