By Etatsemi Onoriode
Sapele: Members of Sapele Diocese, Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria in Sapele, Delta State, recently took to the streets again demanding for the Presiding Bishop, Rev B. A. Erifeta removal.
The members, who stormed the street as early as 10am, were vocal in their demand, as they chanted ‘Erifeta must go’. Open top Vans and Vehicles conveying members were clothed in colorful banners with inscriptions like ‘Bye Bye Erifeta’ ‘Primate take your Bishop away’ ‘You can’t force yourself on us’ while those on foot danced to the rhythm the chorus was making. Some of the members, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, they were fed up with Bishop Erifeta style of leadership they claim is not only abusive but corrupt.
They added that House of Bishops has already voted him out with a resolution to the Church Primate, His Grace Nicholas Okoh, to remove him hence the need for this protest to bid him farewell.
According to Evangelist Okunoma, the People’s Warden of All Saint Anglican Church, Sapele ” we just want the whole world to know that we are fed up with his leadership style which include embezzlement, unfaithfulness, and selective posting of Priest who are his favourites, perceiving others as enemies, and general underdevelopment of the entire Diocese,”
Sunny Akpobasa, the Diocese Secretary also said ” this protest will not end until the Primate carry out the resolution of the Bishops to remove Erifeta. Though Erifeta is going round members houses to appeal to them, that will not deter the Church of God from sending him from their mist, because he is a bad example , who is out to lead people to hell”
As for Mrs Dorah Oyibo , a member of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Sapele ” we do not need Bishop Erifeta again because he has crippled the Church and those who left the Church because of his tyrannical style of leadership has since return, so why do we need him?” She asked.
The protesters who started from the headquarter of the Diocese St Luke Cathedral, at Boyo road, Sapele marched through all the major streets in Sapele metropolis before heading back to the headquarter, with a vow to protest again if their demands are not met.
For many months, members of the diocese have been at loggerheads with their bishop, whom they want transferred, but the authorities have not acceded to their request.
Despite repeated protest and pleas from the Church leaders, Bishop B.A Erifeta, last year attempted to force a Synod (the Diocese annual convention) on the Church members, which led to the church women organizing a peaceful protest to register their displeasure and the Soldiers alleged to have beaten up the women.
