…Archbishop Akubeze of Benin Archdiocese takes over as Administrator
Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese Nigeria, Most Rev. John Oke’Oghene Afareha has resigned his pastoral governance of Warri Diocese after attaining the canonical year of retirement in the Church. The Holy Father, Pope Francis in his acceptance letter dated April 18, 2022 accepted his renunciations and appointed His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze of Benin City Archdiocese as the administrator of the diocese.
Most Rev. John Afareha was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of same diocese in 1997 and became a substantive bishop of the diocese on March 29, 2010 until he clocked 75 years on March 10, 2022. Catholics from within and outside the diocese received the news of his retirement today, April 18, in quietness, stating that the bishop who is an educationist and disciplinarian will be missed for his commitment to pastoral development which cut across the diocese.