Tension is brewing in the Diocese of Awka, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), following arrangements by the newly appointed Supervising Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, to assume control of the affairs of the diocese on Wednesday, in line with a directive issued by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba.
Ndukuba had, in a letter, suspended the Archbishop of Awka, the Most Rev. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, for six months and directed Ezeofor to take over the administration of the diocese in his capacity as Supervising Bishop.
However, Archbishop Ibezim has challenged the Primate’s directives before the Anambra State High Court in Awka, particularly the constitution of the panel of inquiry established to investigate allegations levelled against him.
The unfolding dispute has heightened tensions within the diocese, with divisions emerging between members who remain loyal to Ibezim and those supporting the intervention by the Church’s national leadership.
The situation was evident during a church service officiated by Archbishop Ibezim attended the premises of St. Faith’s Cathedral, Awka, last Sunday, where a heavily armed joint team of security operatives was present to maintain law and order.
Despite the directive placing him on a six-month suspension, Ibezim attended the service and continued to present himself in his capacity as Archbishop of the Diocese of Awka.
During the service, he described the lingering crisis as a spiritual battle against principalities and powers, urging members of the church to approach the situation from a spiritual perspective.
According to reports from the Anambra State Police Command, additional security operatives were deployed to the cathedral to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order amid the escalating dispute.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Supervising Bishop, Ezeofor, plans to hold his first meeting with the diocesan leadership as part of efforts to assume administrative control of the diocese.
However, the planned meeting has reportedly encountered resistance, as a number of church members loyal to Ibezim have declined the invitation.
The aggrieved members are said to be opposed to Ezeofor’s proposed takeover, citing, among other concerns, the reported removal of the incumbent diocesan Chancellor, Sir B. E. I. Nwofor, SAN, from office before the Supervising Bishop had formally assumed his new responsibilities.
The development has further deepened the divisions within the diocese, with the aggrieved members maintaining that they would not support what they described as an overbearing influence on the affairs of the diocese.
In a resolution issued in response to the unfolding developments, the members warned that they would not be party to what they considered undue interference in the administration of the diocese.
Reacting to the increasingly tense situation, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, dismissed suggestions that the heavy security presence at last Sunday’s service was intended to favour any faction in the dispute.
Ikenga explained that political officeholders who worship at St. Faith’s Cathedral, Awka, routinely attend services with their security personnel, adding that the Archbishop also has his own security detail.
“We had security presence at the last Sunday service there, but it was not targeted at protecting or taking sides with any of the parties,” he said.
“Remember that top government functionaries attend service there, including the Governor, the Deputy Governor and others. You also know that the Archbishop himself has his own security personnel, so it is not true that the Command is protecting any of the groups.”he said.
The police spokesman also confirmed that additional security operatives had been deployed to the area to ensure the maintenance of law and order.
He urged all parties involved in the dispute to remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid any action capable of escalating tensions or triggering a breakdown of law and order.
“The Command uses this medium to advise all interest groups to be law-abiding and conduct themselves within the ambit of the law, as it is determined to ensure that people do not take the law into their own hands,” Ikenga said.
The planned takeover by Ezeofor on Wednesday is expected to be a significant development in the protracted leadership crisis, which has continued to generate controversy within the Diocese of Awka over the suspension of Ibezim, the investigation into allegations against him and the authority of the Church’s national leadership to intervene in the administration of the diocese.
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