By Abel Kolawole

Encomium poured freely as dignitaries from all walks of life, including church leaders, top government functionaries, diplomats, captains of industry, traditional rulers and well wishers thronged the Central Cathedral Complex of the Christ Chosen Church of God International, CCCG, along Benin-Agbor Road, Edo State for the investiture of Dr. David E.O Unuefe Ikuiwu as the Most Senior Apostle/Spiritual Leader/General Overseer of the church.

Unuefe, who is also the Chairman, Church Council, succeeds Most Senior Apostle Joshua Osasuyi who died on July 11, 2018.

The investiture coincided with the celebration of the church’s International Annual Convention 2018 held under the theme, ‘The Unchangeable God’.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion include Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who were represented, the representative of the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Felix Omobude, and the Benin monarch, who was represented by the Iyase of Benin, Chief  Sam Igbe.

In his homily, the General Superintendent, Christ Apostolic Church of God Mission, CACGM, Apostle Godspower Ogbonwan, asserted that situations and circumstances can change, maintaining that only God cannot change.

Taking his reading from Joshua Chapter 1: 1-9,  the clergyman charged Christians and leaders  across the country to always observe the principles of successful leadership.

“Our problem is not followership but leadership. If we miss putting good leaders in place, we will miss good leadership”, he posited.

Obaseki, in his address, congratulated the new Spiritual Leader and charged him to sustain the tempo of peace, love and unity which he said the church has been propagating over the years.

On his part, Okowa, who noted the relationship between Edo and Delta states, said he was elated to be among dignitaries at the ceremony

The governor, who was represented by his Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, assured the leadership of the church of the administration’s support.

Edo State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Oyonude Kure, while congratulating Onuefe, prayed God to rest His hands on him to enable him fulfil the divine mandate.

The CAN Chairman urged the new Spiritual Head not to see his position as a political but a divine mandate to lead the church beyond man’s imagination.

Senior Apostle (Dr.) J.F.O. Onaghise harped on the need to inculcate the teaching of the church doctrine in the younger generation.

In his exhortation before he was invested as Most Senior Apostle, Unuefe admonished Christians to return to the prayer days in the Bible if they must overcome challenges.

He stressed the importance of prayers, especially during trying periods, maintaining that prayers help to turn away from wicked ways.

While expressing gratitude to God for winning spiritual battles in the past, the General Overseer warned that visions, prophesies and dreams which had caused more harm than good in the body of Christ would no longer be tolerated in the church.

Speaking on the topic: ‘A Call to Return to God’, he said the people were already a chosen generation if only they realised themselves and returned to God in faithfulness.

Taking the congregation down memory lane, Onuefe recalled how some members with whom he started the struggle later backslide, just as he urged them to return to God, as all hope was not lost.

In his short message after he was administered the oath of office by the Commissioner for Oath, Iredia Osifo, the General Overseer said he was overwhelmed by the array of personalities at the event.

He commended his family, and the church for their show of support and encouragement which he said took him this far.

He promised to initiate policies and programmes that would ursher in a new dawn in the church anchored on transparency and equity.

He prayed God to grant him the spiritual backing to lead the church.

• Abel writes from Lagos