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By Godwin Utuedoye,
Palpable peace and normalcy which seems to have returned to the Sapele Diocese of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion over the rift between the congregation and the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Blessing A. Erifeta, assumed a new dimension as the embattled Bishop was chased out of St. Peter’s Anglican Church Jesse recently by church members.
Bishop Blessing Erifeta
Our source at Jesse confide in Advocate Newspaper that the embattled Bishop who has been accused of financial embezzlement, tyrannical leadership and highhandedness which has led his congregation to call for his removal, made a visit to the Church of St. Peter’s Jesse to settle a rancour between the congregation and the priest in-charge, Venerable Williams Udi, who had a row with members but he was humiliated, abused and insulted.
Sources close to the church disclosed that the Bishop who was earlier informed of the feud between the members and the Venerable posted to the church took the decision to visit the church embroiled in a heated row in order to amicably settle their differences and pacify them, but his presence was said to have reinvigorated their grievances and anger over the lingering crisis in the diocese which indicts the Bishop of funds embezzlements and other things.
According to our source, the Bishop was not allowed to present the issue that brought him before he was confronted by his flocks with abusive words and demeaning utterances such as; “Erifeta we don’t know you, live our church thief.”
A member of the women group who also angry with the Bishop but show some sign of sympathy said; he felt for the Bishop but maintained that the Bishop knows what to do to bring back peace to the Diocese by calling for his transfer or resignation, but said the power drunken Bishop Erifeta has refused to do so.
Making references to the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara where the congregation also had issues with their Bishop, the lady said, in order to avoid such humiliations, the Bishop should honourably resigned his appointment and give peace a chance for the work of God to continue and grow.
In her words; utterances such as, “Blessing live our church or you die” and fingers pointed at the Bishop face was not supposed to be if he had done the needful.
Another source disclosed that as the intermittent rain of abusive words began to fall, some members where already in the spirit to attack the Bishop physically before some
members of the church whisked the bishop and the Venerable Williams into the Bishop car and zoomed off as members clapped hands and boo the Bishop.
Meanwhile penultimate Sunday, similar situation was experienced at one of the church’s branch at Oghara Junction in Ethiope West Local Government Area when the Bishop was also chased out along side his priest.
Investigation into the matter reveals that members are angry with the Bishop whom they alleged has crumbled the Diocese with his flamboyant life style. Adding that the Bishop knew he was not in the good book of members, defiled several calls on him to transfer the embattled Venerable Udi who they also accused of working hand in hand with the Bishop.
An inside source disclosed that the embattled Bishop is so adamant to the demands of the people coupled with his inability to pilot the affairs of the Diocese perfectly and peacefully.
Another source who spoke to Advocate Newspaper accused the prelate of being heartless and intoxicated by power . He noted that priests working in the Diocese are being owed salaries for years and the Bishop is not worry. The source further faults the handling of the matter by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh and the panel set up to investigate the matter alleging that the Bishop has bought them over.
As at the time of filing this report, it was still unclear if the Bishop will comply by sending another priest to the two church’s.
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