ASABA/Nigeria: A concerned and neutral member of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Sapele Diocese, Brother Amos Amiele Akhigbe, has offered what he described as a conscience-driven and faith-based framework aimed at resolving the protracted crisis that has continued to affect the spiritual and administrative life of St. Luke’s Cathedral.
In a detailed statement made public, Akhigbe said his intervention followed deep prayerful reflection on the Primate’s directives as conveyed in a recent letter on the matter, noting that he felt morally constrained to share observations and suggestions capable of delivering a lasting and God-honouring resolution to a dispute that has lingered for nearly nine years.
While acknowledging the concern of the Primate and the House of Bishops to bring the crisis to an end, the concerned church member cautioned that the tone and approach of the current directives appeared largely authoritative and militaristic, warning that such a posture could harden positions rather than heal long-standing wounds within the diocese.
He expressed reservations about the work of the Church of Nigeria Alternative Dispute Resolution Taskforce, stating that available indications suggest the committee may not have carried out a sufficiently comprehensive and inclusive investigation into the historical roots and emotional depth of the conflict. According to him, this gap may have resulted in advice that failed to address the core grievances sustaining the crisis.
Akhigbe further argued that the insistence on enabling Bishop Erifeta to take over the Cathedral on January 18, 2026, without broad-based consultations, risks aggravating tensions rather than fostering reconciliation. He recalled that a former Primate of the Church, despite his military background, had adopted a more patient and consultative approach in recognition of the sensitivity surrounding the dispute.
He lamented that key stakeholders with institutional memory and deep understanding of the crisis, including respected church leaders and prominent members of the Rescue Group, were allegedly not consulted during the mediation process. He added that meetings reportedly held under the ADR framework were perceived by many as directive-driven rather than conciliatory.
The concerned Anglican stressed that reconciliation is a process rather than an event, insisting that meaningful peace can only be achieved through deliberate engagement with aggrieved parties, first individually and later collectively, to allow grievances to be aired and trust rebuilt.
Calling for a rethink of the present strategy, Akhigbe urged the leadership of the Church of Nigeria to adopt a more diplomatic, inclusive and wisdom-driven approach anchored on dialogue, discernment and patience. He concluded with prayers for divine wisdom for the Primate, the House of Bishops and all parties involved, to guide the Church toward a truly lasting and God-glorifying resolution of the Sapele Diocese crisis.
