By Our Correspondent
Youths of the cathedral church of ST. Luke’s Sapele Diocese, Delta State (Anglican Church) the headquarters of the Diocese, are Protesting against what they called financial recklessness, insubordination, intimidation of members etc, by their bishop, Rev. Dr. B.A Erifeta (JP) calling on the general headquarters Abuja to remove him from office with immediate effect to allow for speedy
growth of the Diocese.
The youths in their hundreds who rose from the youth synod meeting
preparatory to their annual general synod at Jeddo on 29/07/2015, in
Okpe Local government area placed the cathedral which is one of the
largest worship centers in sapele under lock and heavy keys, carrying
placards with the inscriptions, “without congregation no Bishop,
without laity no Bishop, stop insulting our elders in church, Enough
of Embezzlement of church funds and intimation, we need accountability
of church fund, etc”.
The youths in their letter Dated 14th July, 2015 which was copied the
Bishop of the Diocese, Rt Rev, Dr. B.A. Erifeta (JP), The Vicar,
Cathedral church of St. Luke’s, the standing committee of the church,
the Elders of the church and all groups within the cathedral, which
was signed by the youth president Mr. Gbaragada O. Clintin and many
others including another letter from Coordinators of all the Diocese
branches which was addressed to His Grace, Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh
Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria on the 24h day of
July, 2015, states that having noted the reduction of the church
membership with its attendant dwindling fortune occasioned by the
Maladministration of the presiding Bishop, they have therefore
resolved that he should take a bow and leave them immediately so that
the church of God can move on.
The youths also listed the alleged sins of their Bishop to include,
the dissolution of the church choir for no justifiable reason, hurling
of insult on the elders and members by the Diocesan whenever he comes
to the cathedral to worship and sometimes to outsiders, while also
sometimes uses offending and insulting words to members such as, “is
there something wrong with you upstairs, are you alright? Which they
said has sent many packing in droves to other sister churches or to
other denominations.
They added that in terms of development of the church, they are
registering their grievances about the stagnation of projects,
especially the non completion of the church building, the church
schools and other meaningful projects for the propagation of the
gospel of Christ including the church finances which no other member
of the church could access despite the huge financial contributions of
members not with standing the drastic reduction on the numerical
strength of the church.
They resolved therefore that henceforth “Assessment should be reduced
to a barest minimum in other for the church to pay the back log, that
the funds meant for the building of the church should be used for the
building and not for assessment, advising that insult to elders and
members from the pulpit and the altar should be stopped, since he, The
Bishop has been called by God to bless and not to curse the members,
calling on the Bishop to allow the church to move faster, but not the
slow snail moment they are currently subjected”.
All groups in the Diocese in their letter to their leader, called on
all well meaning members of the Diocese to put a stop on the payment
of the assessment and equally boycott this year synod because of the
payment that has brought hardship to all members, the Bishop turning
the synod to his personal business hustling ground where he gathers
enough cash for his foreign trips and shopping, etc.
They also alleged that the Bishop has purchased two jeeps with the
church money, calling on members to say no to greed/oppression, no to
financial embezzlement and telling of lies, no to evil prophecy etc
warning too that since Christ is coming soon, members should not say
they were not warned over the Bishops atrocities over time.
At the time of filling this report, the Bishop of the Diocese could
not be reached for his comments on the allegation leveled against him,
but a senior pastor of the cathedral venerable Otemu Oyibo said they
were taken aback by the activities of the youths yesterday the 28th
day of July 2015 when they (youth) came out in their large numbers
protesting against the Bishop.
He assured that the leadership of the church will do everything
possible to put an end to the crisis so that normal church activities
could resumed adding that security operatives have been invited to
fall stall any possible break down of law and order.
