Two Nigerians were yesterday in Lagos installed as members of House of Bishops (HOB), the highest decision making body of Worldwide Anglican Church (WAC).
Those installed by the Church’s Patriarch, Archbishop Christopher Lwanga Tusubira from Uganda were Most Rev. Akinbode Oke who became the Primate and Archbishop of West Africa and Rt. Rev. Seun Adeoye as Lead Bishop, West Africa of WAC.
Both Oke and Adeoye will join 10 other archbishops and six bishops across the world as members of HOB and this would be the first time any Nigerian will occupy such a position in the church.
Other HOB members were Archbishops Tusubira (Uganda – Africa), Christine J.A Johnson (Matriarch – USA) Spencer Garnica (Primate of South and Central America), Segura Beltran (South America), John Elbelding (Archbishop USA), Dr. Elija Arok (South -Sudan), Barnabas Titung (Nepal), Moses Rajasingh (Primate – Asia) Paulo Sergio Fereira (Archbishop – Brazil).
The Bishops were Jan Beaderstadt (Apostolic Nuncio to Patriarch and Matriarch), Marco Perez (Lead Bishop – Lima Peru, South America), Jimmy Bamuke (Lead Bishop – East Africa) and Rev. Diego Diaz (Chaplain to the House of Bishops).
Earlier, Tusubira had inaugurated WAC in Nigeria and issued the Church’s certificate of Apostolic Succession to six Bishops who decided to join and operate the Church in Nigeria while new Bishops and priests from West Africa and Cameroon were also ordained.
Speaking during the occasion, Most Reverend Tusubira charged leaders to be humble, honest and make rules that will make people to follow peace.
He regretted that in Africa, most political leaders were those leading their people to rig elections and keeping corrupt individuals around themselves.
He further chided those in political office who have deliberately turned the constitution around and change rule which keep them in office perpetually.
“Leaders must live by example and give speech that will encourage their people. They must not lead people to do evil and must do everything to protect their people”, he stated.