This page was last updated on the 28th of October 2024.

Individual profiles on this website will be constantly updated to reflect their current position. Please check the last “updated date” and contact us at admin [@] anglicandioceseofogbia.com to correct any error you may have noticed.

A Documentary Written By The Reverend Paul Azibanizoman Ibulu, A Priest of the Diocese of Ogbia (Anglican Communion)

The Enthronement Of The Right Reverend Matthew Tamunotari Obaze (Jp) As The New Bishop Of The Diocese Of Ogbia (Anglican Communion)

Introduction:

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) which became an Autonomous Province on Saint Mathias Day (Saturday, 24 February, 1979) has set out various missionary and evangelistic strategies and platforms for the fulfillment of the modus operandi of the Great Commission otherwise known as the Royal Charter as mandated by Christ Jesus, the Lord of the Church Triumphant and Church Militant as recorded in the Holy Gospel in Matthew  chapter twenty eight verses nineteenth to twenty: ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Divine Provision & Gift Of A Diocese

It is on record that the immediate past Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend (Dr.) Ali Buba Lamido rightly asserts that the pillars of the Church are: “Spiritual Leadership in the Church; the Learning Church; the Caring Church; the Worshipping Church; and the Evangelizing Church”.

Consequently, for the purpose of enhancing these aforementioned pillars of the Church, the Diocese of Ogbia (Anglican Communion) was created in order to continue the good works of the heroes of the Christian Faith in this part of the world such as, the Reverend Thomas Birch Freeman, Henry Venn, and Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther (all of Blessed Memory) who were among the missionaries of the Church Missionary Society (CSM) that propagated the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in Nigeria.

Professor Allen Agih opines that: “It is a known fact that Ogbia Land of Bayelsa State is a land abundantly blessed by God Almighty and the creation of the Diocese of Ogbia (Anglican Communion) is a further demonstration of God’s providential benevolence upon the people of Yahweh and the land, which the people will always remain grateful to the founding fathers.” Interestingly, the people of Ogbia who are predominantly farmers, fishermen, civil servants, businessmen and politicians are found in the coastline of the Niger Delta especially in Bayelsa State and is situates within Latitude 4.63 and 4.96 Degrees North of the Equator and Longitude 6.31 and 6.96 Degrees East of the Greenwich Meridian.

It covers an aerial terrain or area of 693.2 Km². Ogbia as a blessed land is the first place where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in the whole of West Africa precisely in January, 1956 otherwise known as Oloibiri Oil Well at Itabagi Community in Ogbia Land (though, the place lacks infrastructural development as there are no adequate social amenities). The Ogbia people speak the Ogbia language or dialect.

The people of Ogbia have existed for hundreds of years before becoming a kingdom with the formation of OGBIA BROTHERHOOD (a Pan-Ogbia, Socio-cultural and Educational Organization serving as the Traditional National Assembly – the Senate Chamber) in 1940 with the motto: ALL FOR EACH AND EACH FOR ALL by an indigenous Anglican Priest, the Reverend (King) George Igabu Amangala (of blessed memory) who was also coronated as the first King of Ogbia Kingdom because of his visionary and pragmatic efforts in using biblical principles to lay the foundation of Ogbia Kingdom and to frontier the activities of Ogbia Brotherhood which brought illumination and civilization to the people of Ogbia.

The meritorious works of the generation of Late Reverend Amangala were sustained and consolidated  by the generation of His Royal Majesty, Late B. A. Isiki and Late Chief Senator (Dr.) Melford Obiene Okilo (the First Civilian Governor of Old Rivers State and Past Grand Patron of Ogbia Brotherhood). The current monarch of Ogbia Kingdom is, His Eminence, King Dumaro Charles-Owaba, Obanobhan (III), while the current Grand Patron of Ogbia Brotherhood is, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR (Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria).

The Anglican Church has existed for more than one hundred years in Ogbia Land, the Diocese of Ogbia was created and carved out of the Diocese of Niger Delta West (DNDW) on 28 March, 2008 while the inauguration of the Diocese was held at Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Ogbia Town on Thursday, 5 June, 2008 by His Grace, Most Reverend Peter Jasper Akinola, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and after the Pioneer Bishop of the Niger Delta West, His Lordship, Right Reverend Adolphus Amabebe (of blessed memory) relinquished the Ogbia Archdeaconry to be constituted a new Diocese with the motto: FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY  IN SERVICE (taken from 1 Corinthians  13:13).

Meanwhile, the pioneer Bishop was thereafter enthroned by the Reverend Canon Dr. A. J. T. Otobotekere (now a Venerable) in a ceremony attended by the newly appointed Chancellor of the Diocese, Sir Barr. Vincent Max-Egba (who was succeeded by Sir Barr. Phillip Ogoniba after the demise of the pioneer Diocesan Chancellor).

In The Days Of Transition

The Current Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend (Dr.) Blessing Enyindah remarks that “In every dispensation and generation God calls, sets apart, equips and commissions people to be veritable instruments in His hand to make disciples of all nations so that humanity will not be as sheep without shepherds.” It is on this premise, therefore that after the retirement of the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Ogbia in February, 2023, the processes for election, consecration and enthronement of a new Bishop all began.

The Diocese of Ogbia was between March 2023 to March 2024 under the supervision of the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), who is also the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Niger Delta, and Bishop of Ikwerre Diocese, the Most Reverend (Dr.) Blessing Enyindah and his wife, Mrs. Precious Blessing Enyindah, who organized a Sendoff Service for the retired Bishop, the Right Reverend James Ayebarewafamonyo Oruwori (JP) and his wife, Mrs. Felicia Ayebaene Oruwori (JP) who was also the Pioneer Diocesan President of Women Guild, Mothers’ Union, Children Ministry, Treasured Jewels, Girls Guild and Anglican Boys Guild on Sunday, 6 of August, 2023 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Ogbia-Town.

Election, Consecration & Enthronement Of A New Bishop

By Divine Permission, the Right Reverend Matthew Tamunotari Obaze (JP) was elected on 8 February, 2024 at Saint John’s Cathedral, Agbor of Ika Diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bendel and consecrated by His Grace, Most Reverend (Dr.) Henry C. Ndukuba, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion) on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024 at Cathedral Church of our Saviour, Italowajoda, Ijebu-Ode, Diocese of Ijebu of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos.

The Rt. Reverend Matthew Tamunotari Obaze (JP), who was the Archdeacon of Onuebum Archdeaconry and Chairman, Diocesan Clergy Association of the Diocese of Ogbia, will tomorrow, in the year of our Lord, Thursday, 21 March, 2024 enthroned the second Bishop of the Diocese of Ogbia (of the Ecclesiastical Province of Niger Delta) at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Ogbia-Town in the presence of the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend (Dr.) Blessing Enyindah, the current Diocesan Chancellor, Barr. (Mrs.) Enenimiete Betty Abrakasa, the Diocesan Chairman of the Consecration and Enthronement Committee who is also the Vice-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Sir Professor Allen Azibaodumomsi Agih alongside the Diocesan Clerical Synod Secretary, the Venerable Michael Ekimiebi Abrakasa and other prominent personalities from the House of Bishops, House of Clergy and House of Laity including Government Functionaries, Business Tycoons and Traditional Rulers.

By virtue of the consecration and enthronement service, the wife of the new Bishop, Mrs Margaret Esereghi Obaze is now the Diocesan President of the Women Guild, Mothers’ Union, Children Ministry, Treasured Jewels, Girls Guild and Anglican Boys Guild of the Diocese of Ogbia (Anglican Communion).

Conclusion

The people of God are positively confident that, with the enthronement of the new Bishop alongside his wife, God will graciously manifest His glory in the land as it marks a New Dawn for the edification of the Church, the Land of Ogbia and our Dear State, Bayelsa, the Glory of All Lands.