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GLIMPSES INTO THE DIOCESE OF ASABA’S SYNOD

THE third session of the 13th synod of the Diocese of Asaba was held at Saint Matthew’s Anglican Church Idumuje-Ugboko Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State from May 14 to 17, 2015. The event was well attended by Christian faithful within and outside the state.

Synods are times Bishops, particularly in the Anglican Church, give account of their stewardship to members of their flock and at the same time give a charge they hope will give spiritual impetus to their followers throughout the year. True to this expectation, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Asaba and the President of the Synod, Rt Rev. Justus Mogekwu gave his Synod Charge based on the theme: Godly Leadership: The Elixir For A Disconsolate Citizenry and he chose his Bible text from Prov. 29v2. 
In a word study on the theme, he opined that ‘Leadership’ simply means somebody whom people follow or as somebody who guides or directs others, while others define leadership as ‘organising a group of people to achieve a common goal’. Elixir is something that is supposed to solve problems as if by magic. Citizenry means all the citizens in a particular town, country or state, while disconsolate means extremely sad and hopeless. It is to be very unhappy and unable to be comforted.

Therefore, he observed that: what the Nigerian saddened citizenry requires at this time is Godly leadership that will wipe away tears from their faces. He recalled that while some places like China, Dubai, Singapore and Japan are enjoying developing economies as enunciated by their leaders, the lot of Nigeria is a case whereby some leaders have become heroes in squandermania— showing off their spending ‘prowess’ in Dubai, London, Paris and all the other business capitals of the world. A good number of Nigerian leaders (and their spouses) are slaves to extravagant lifestyles. Look at the houses they build. Majority of them are much bigger than they really need.

He further stated that leaders should know that the position they hold is in trust for God to whom they must give account of their stewardship at last. If they know that their powers are derived from God, then they must always exercise it in such a way as to be ready to give a worthy account of their stewardship to the One Who has given it to them in trust. One way they can do this is to always have recourse to God, the source of all wisdom. He cautioned leaders not to be like Presidents Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and Idi Amin Dada and co who brutally suppressed and oppressed their people only to leave office ignominously.

However, he said there is hope if only leaders at all levels should be godly by following in the footsteps of the good shepherd (Jesus). He had sympathy for the sheep (the citizenry), risked and sacrificed His life for the sheep, Jh 10v11, 15. Besides, He seeks and welcomes the sheep that wandered away. I Peter 2v25.
He was optimistic that God will not abandon our nation, especially as it transits into a new administration and prays that His mercy will always be upon this nation and its populace.

Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org

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