Akinola’s primacy lauded in Nigerian press

A rather over the top article was run in “The Nation” a Nigerian newspaper over the weekend.

The article begins:

“Consequent upon the retirement of the 2nd Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Most Revd J.A. Adetiloye in December 1999, the Most Revd Peter J. Akinola was by Divine providence, duly elected the 3rd Primate of the Church of Nigeria on Tuesday, February 22, 2000. Archbishop Akinola, who was called from the carpentry of wood and materials to the carpentry of the Church of God, eventually proved himself a master craft man who visualizes a design and then perfectly brings it to reality. Before his election, Archbishop Akinola, who prior to his election as Primate was the Dean, Church of Nigeria, the Archbishop of the Province III (Northern Dioceses) and Bishop of Abuja, had by Divine Grace and Enablement built the Diocese of Abuja literally from nothing to the most viable Diocese of the Church of Nigeria. Thus for those who knew him, it was little wonder that his emergence as the Primate would definitely take the Church of Nigeria to a very high pedestal.”

After a detailed recounting of his many deeds in Nigeria the article ends:

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but anyone who does not think that Akinola’s Primacy is a resounding success will have an uphill task for a better comparison, as the Church has never had it so good. In fact Archbishop Akinola has succeeded in putting the Primacy of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at a level that will take a very long time to equal nationally, regionally and globally. By the foregone indications, he has immensely endowed the future generation of Anglicans in many unprecedented ways.

Perhaps the best we can do is pray for a worthy successor who will be humble enough to continue the good work already started by building on the foundation already laid. Such a successor will, of course, have to identify those areas of the vision that call for a general review, taking cognizance of today’s peculiarities and faithfully implementing them so as to take the church to the next level.

Read the full article here.

The article is written by Gbenga Onayiga, the diocesan communicator for the Diocese of Abuja.

H/T to Thinking Anglicans where you can read the comments of their readers here.

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