Ndukuba takes office as fifth Anglican primate, urges more COVID-19 isolation centres

•President greets cleric

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has enthroned Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba as the fifth primate of the church.In the meantime, the cleric has commended the federal and state governments for the steps taken so far to contain the Coronavirus pandemic, urging the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to urgently establish more test and isolation centres across the federation to preserve lives.

Speaking after his enthronement at a brief church service yesterday in Abuja, Ndukuba implored Nigerians to adhere to the directives of government in checking the ferocity of the disease.

Imploring the citizenry to prioritise hygiene and obedience to instructions, the primate urged the three tiers of government to collaborate with nations with the requisite technology and equipment to overcome the scourge.

Besides, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the new Anglican leader.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President prayed for God’s grace, wisdom and guidance for Archbishop Ndukuba as he leads “Anglicans in Nigeria at a time of contending myriad of challenges for the church, the nation and the world.”

He appreciated the contributions and solidarity of the church in encouraging the faithful to adhere to government and public health authorities-led efforts to limit the transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ndukuba went on: “We need to be patient. There is something that is very clear which we must note. This pandemic is for a time, it will pass away but while it persists, we need to be prayerful, look up to God and be careful about our hygiene as well as do the things that are necessary.

“Follow the guidance of our leadership. We pray that God in His mercy will deliver us from this pandemic and give us healing because this disease doesn’t know our positions, titles or tribes.”

On how he hopes to pilot the affairs of the church, the Ndukuba stated: “We thank God for a moment like this, the shoe is big, we depend on the Lord who has called us and to whom the church belongs and who also rules in the affairs of men even in Nigeria. So, we will look up to God for guidance, for leadership and for the enablement to do His will.”

In his remarks, the outgone primate, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh said: “We struggled with the international community over human sexuality, my predecessor struggled with it and the struggle continued and the struggle is continuing. So, the new primate needs the prayer of the church because these are people who believe that whatever they are doing is right and everybody must follow it.”