Soludo, Okowa eulogize Archbishop Ibezim @ 60, lauds gesture to catholic priests

Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has commended the Archbishop, Province of the Niger, His Grace, Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, PhD over his gesture to the retired Catholic priests in Awka, Anambra State.

Last Thursday, the Anglican Prelate, Ibezim alongside clergymen and other diocesan elders paid homage to the Catholic Priests’ Welfare Home at Aquinas Catholic Church, Awka, where he donated food items for the feeding and care of the retired Catholic priests.

The gesture, Archbishop Ibezim had explained, was in commemoration of his 60 years birthday anniversary which he marked on Friday, August 5th, 2022, amidst pomp and ceremony.

Speaking at Archbishop Ibezim’s thanksgiving service at the Cathedral church of St. Faith, Awka, Governor Soludo praised him for his ecumenism and for extending his hand of charity to the catholic counterparts.

According to him, “I want to commend the Archbishop and to tell him to continue to work in the footsteps of ecumenism. Christians must learn to come together. I was impressed when I heard that you went to see the catholic retired priests and they prayed for and with you. That is the spirit.

“That is also what I have instituted in the governor’s lodge. We must service everyday. On Mondays, the Pentecostals lead us in service, Tuesdays is the turn of the Anglicans and then, Wednesday becomes the turn of the Catholic and so on, for the week. It is in the spirit of ecumenism because the body of Christ is one.”

Soludo who congratulated the Archbishop on his birthday said he has lived an impactful life and prayed Ibezim’s 60th birthday and his 38 years success in the Lord’s vineyard would attract God’s favour for the growth of the state.

Earlier in his homily, the Archbishop, Metropolitan, and Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Revd. Dr. Henry Ndukuba commended the Archbishop for the sacrifice of personal gains for the good of the church and the society.

He admonished the congregation to remain faithful to God irrespective of the challenges of life, noting that God has been the saviour of the world and would not abandone His people at their point of need.

Meanwhile, the governor of Delta State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice- presidential candidate for 2023 election, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa called for more prayers for the nation.

He urged the people of the south-east to unite in the fight against insecurity, adding that it is unwise for the people to destroy the economy they laboured to raise.

The event attracted the presence of dignitaries including Senators Uche Ekwunife, Victor Umeh, Hon Dozie Nwankwo, other politicians, legal luminaries, and many others, while Thanksgiving by Ibezim’s family, special prayer for political leaders and cutting of Ibezim’s birthday cake formed the climax of the service.