The crisis rocking the Anglican Diocese of Awka has taken a dramatic turn, with diocesan priests reportedly rallying behind the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, amid the ongoing dispute with Archbishop Alexander Ibezim.
The priests reportedly reaffirmed their allegiance to the Primate following the first service conducted by the newly appointed supervising bishop of the diocese, Bishop Samuel Ezeofor, at St. Faith’s Cathedral on Wednesday.
The service marks a significant development in the dispute between Archbishop Ibezim and the leadership of the Church of Nigeria over the administration and control of the diocese.
The development comes after the Primate, Archbishop Ndukuba, reportedly directed Ibezim to proceed on a compulsory six-month leave to allow an investigation into allegations against him.
However, Ibezim reportedly rejected the directive. Through the diocesan chancellor, Nwofor, he also challenged the appointment of Bishop Ezeofor as the supervising bishop of the diocese.
Despite the opposition, Ezeofor proceeded with the service at St. Faith’s Cathedral, where priests in attendance reportedly reaffirmed their allegiance to the Primate and the leadership of the Church of Nigeria.
The clergymen also reportedly rejected the position adopted by the diocesan board under Ibezim, which opposed Ndukuba’s decision.
The reported stance of the priests signals a deepening division over the authority responsible for overseeing the affairs of the Diocese of Awka, with the Primate’s directive and the appointment of a supervising bishop emerging as central points of contention.
In a move aimed at restoring peace and unity, Ezeofor directed every church in the diocese to nominate between four and five persons to participate in a reconciliation process.
The initiative is expected to provide a platform for consultations among members of the diocese, encourage dialogue and promote efforts to resolve the leadership dispute.
The crisis has raised concerns about unity, stability and the administration of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, as the opposing positions of Ibezim and the leadership of the Church of Nigeria continue to shape developments within the diocese.
Ezeofor’s first service and the reported reaffirmation of allegiance by the priests represent a new chapter in the dispute, with attention now shifting to the proposed reconciliation process and the next steps towards resolving the crisis.
As events unfold, the ability of the church’s leadership and other stakeholders to pursue dialogue, respect applicable ecclesiastical procedures and address the issues underlying the dispute will be crucial to restoring lasting peace and unity within the diocese.
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