… Accolades’ shower for Archbishop Martins
The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos wore an overwhelming joyful look on Thursday, August 4, 2022. The ecstatic clergy, religious and lay faithful from its 20 deaneries and beyond filled the Holy Cross Cathedral and its entire premises to the brim. Dignitaries and well-wishers from all walks of life graced the dual monumental occasion making it even more colourful, cheerful and exciting. It couldn’t have been the contrary. History is to be made beyond being marked. On same day, 10 years ago, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, pioneer Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese was installed as the 4th Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos. Thursday, August 4, 2022 assumed even a stronger historic profile just as nine Deacons joined the ranks of priesthood for the Archdiocese of Lagos. Archbishop Martins ordained nine priests while he marked his 10th installation anniversary as Archbishop of Lagos amid showers of accolades.
The newly ordained Priests include, Rev. Fr. Louis Kenechi Anyanwu, Rev. Fr. Chukwunyere Richard Nwabugwu, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Oluwadamilare Fashanu, Rev. Fr. Clement Ebanehita Idobogbe and Rev. Fr. Paul Chukwuebuka Mbah. Others are Rev. Fr. Benjamin Maduka Mkpahu, Rev. Fr. Hilary Temitope Ogunyemi, Rev. Fr. Dominic Okafor and Rev. Fr. Anthony Oluwatosin Olympio. The Thanksgiving and Ordination Mass was awesome as family members, consecrated and non consecrated persons watched with keen interest as the ordinands progressed through the Rites of Ordination from the phase of their presentation as candidates to election by the Bishop and consent of the people, examination, promise of obedience, litany of the Saints, laying on of hands, prayer of consecration, investiture with stole and chasuble, anointing of hands and kiss of peace. And they were eventually pronounced Priests amid exciting loud cheers. Archbishops Martins and Akubeze took opportunity of the double epochal event to task government on good governance and plead with the electorate to vote right besides admonishing the Deacons. In his homily, Most Rev. (Dr.) Augustine Akubeze, Archbishop of Benin and the immediate past President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) congratulated Archbishop Martins on his 10th installation anniversary and expressed gratitude to the Archbishop for his profound works and leadership style. He said, “I greet His Grace, Most Rev. Adewale Martins who has governed the faithful with compassion and love.
I congratulate you as you mark your 10th anniversary as the Archbishop of Lagos and at the ordination of nine priests for the Church in Lagos. I greet all the candidates for ordination for making themselves available to be used for God’s work.” The Archbishop of Benin implored the newly ordained priests to strive for leadership that seeks to guide the people of God entrusted to their care. He urged them to be obedient and submissive to the authorities of the Church as he appealed to political leaders to listen to the plight of the people they govern. In his words, “Our political leaders also must listen to the people who voted them into power, the electorate must develop an attitude that speaks loud and clear to the political elites that their votes are not available for sell. If over thirty million Catholics in Nigeria decide to speak through the ballot box in choosing our leaders, the politicians will listen. If the Catholics who were part of the delegates at the various major political parties conventions spoke and said their votes and delegates were not for sell the political elites would listen.
If the Catholics and other men and women of good will irrespective of religion or ethnic consideration decide to say we don’t want a government that cannot protect our lives and properties, the politicians will listen. If we all agree to say the instability created by poor government response to terrorist attacks on our churches and sacred places is unacceptable, the government will listen. “The major challenge we have is that our political leaders believe that our voices can be bought. To everyone listening to me today, I call on you to make a firm resolution to let your vote be for the candidate who has shown that they have credibility and capacity to bring us together as a people, let your vote be for candidates that can end the downward trend of our economy, let your vote bring into power persons who can end the insecurity in the land, let your vote bring into office politicians who can make Nigeria enjoy the natural and human resources God has blessed us with. We must vote for the security and prosperity of Nigeria,” Archbishop Akubeze stated. Speaking in same vein, the celebrant, Archbishop Martins expressed gratitude to God on his 10th installation anniversary as the Archbishop of Lagos. He attributed the milestone to God and his predecessor.
He said, “I must say that I am truly delighted that I have had this opportunity to serve the Archdiocese in the last ten years. I must say that I began with fear and trembling because I had no illusion about the enormity of the task that I was about to take up. “But I remember that my prayer was that God would give me ‘a pair of shoes ‘that were my own size so that I could walk comfortably since the size of the shoes of the men who were before me were simply too big for me. I can tell you that in these last 10 years, I have seen that God heard my prayer.” He added, “If I stand tall today it is because I have had the good fortune of standing on the shoulders of giants who came before me. As the song says; am stronger for their courage, and I am wiser for their wealth. Their wealth of wisdom and vision has made an impact in ensuring that we have an archdiocese, and we have the lay.” Addressing the congregation further, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos urged the public to vote wisely in the forthcoming elections assuring them that the 2023 election will not only hold but that the people’s votes will count. He admonished, “Let us take seriously the preparations and the elections that are forthcoming, sometimes we can lapse into this feeling that our vote won’t count and therefore we don’t pay attention, the vote will count.
I am sure there are some who are even thinking the election will not take place, the elections will take place by the grace of God. And that is why we must call on our government to please ensure that they allay the fears of our people that the election will not take place, please allay our fears, let our president speak to us what is being done to make sure that everything goes well. It is not enough to look forward to retiring, it is important to see and ensure that things are in place before then. “Please let us take this election seriously, I ask that we listen to what the politicians have to say, let us listen to details of what they have to say because that should help us in determining what we do with our votes.” The Ordination and Thanksgiving Mass came to an exciting close with ‘Thanksgiving’ for a decade of fruitful service of Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins as Archbishop of Lagos. His gentle but graceful dancing steps illustrated the gratefulness of His Grace for God’s graces these past ten years.
… Accolades’ shower for Archbishop Martins
‘Under your leadership, our Archdiocese has experienced remarkable feats’
Beloved Brother, on a day like this I cannot but give thanks to God Almighty for His faithfulness and sustenance upon you. Over the years, God in His infinite mercy continues to strengthen and guide you to be the source of blessing and inspiration to many. Under your leadership, our Archdiocese has experienced remarkable feats: the creation of new Deaneries and Deans; the dedication of more Parishes and a continual conferment of the sacraments; the establishment of more academic institutions; substantive projects for future generations in our Archdiocese, and many others. It is my prayer that our Omniscient Father will bless and preserve you with good health of mind and body to keep up these good works.
• Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos
‘Your pastoral zeal, achievements, leadership style are exceptional’
Your Grace, in the past 10 years, you have served so well as Chief Shepherd of Lagos with dedication to duty and love for the Holy Mother Church. Your pastoral zeal, achievements and leadership style are exceptional. This confirms the words of scripture that ‘a city set on a hill cannot be hidden’ (Matt 5: 14).
• Most Rev. (Dr.) Augustine Akubeze, Archbishop of Benin City and immediate past President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria CBCN).
‘We thank the Lord for all that He has achieved through you’
The Lord saddled you with the responsibility of building and leading His Church as a Shepherd. This, you have done devotedly these past years. He has elevated you to the office of the Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Lagos the tenth anniversary of which you now celebrate. We thank God for all He has achieved through you.
• Most Rev. Gabriel Abegurin, Archbishop of Ibadan
‘The Lord has been kind and faithful to you’
The Lord has been kind and faithful to you in the past 10 years as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos and it is fitting to give Him thanks and praise for His mercies and kindness to you. Your 10th Episcopal Anniversary celebration therefore presents the opportunity of gratitude and stock taking even as the Lord is set to continue to uphold and use you in the dignity of the Episcopal Office to shepherd the flock entrusted to you.
• Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta
‘You have done so much in the feeding and nourishing of the flock of Christ’
It is a decade already that you took up the pastoral challenges and responsibility of shepherding the people of God in the Archdiocese of Lagos. Looking back over the past 10 years, you will discover that, you have done so much in the feeding and nourishing of the flock of Christ entrusted to your pastoral care, with the word of God, the Eucharist and the celebration of other Sacraments. However, this is only the beginning of God’s goodness in your life. On this special day, I thank God with you and for your selfless sacrifices and contributions to the growth of the Church.
• Most Rev. Francis Adesina, Bishop of Ijebu-Ode
‘Your dogged commitment to the mission of the Church has been a great motivation to us Bishops’
No doubt, this is a celebration of God’s faithful love for you, in the first place, but also for the Church in Nigeria and, in fact the universal Church. Your dogged commitment to the mission of the Church, especially here in Nigeria, has been a great motivation to us Bishops, but also to all beneficiaries of your pastoral services. I make bold to say that you are one of the God-sent leaders at this time of great challenges in the Church. Your leadership roles and courageous statements to the political powers, without minding whose ox is gored, are testimonies to your relevance within and outside your ecclesiastical jurisdiction. We cannot thank God enough for this great gift He has made of you to our nation and our Church. We glorify God with you, therefore, for what He has achieved through you in this one decade of your life as an Archbishop.
• Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, Bishop of Osogbo
‘Our Diocese and people are great beneficiaries of your charity initiative, Lagos Caritas’
The Landmark you have made within these ten years with the responsibility of shepherding the Archdiocese is so remarkable and calls for thanksgiving. The result of your pastoral care for the flock is seen in the tremendous progress made which are visible in the success of evangelisation work, administration and many other accomplishments which Archdiocese of Lagos has experienced and recorded thus far. Our Diocese and people are great beneficiaries of your charity initiative, Lagos Caritas.
• Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo. Bishop of Oyo
‘We thank God for the gift of your life and person’
We thank God for the gift of your life and person, your selfless services to humanity, the many souls you have touched through your pastoral ministry and the numerous achievements recorded in this decade in the Archdiocese of Lagos and the Church at large.
• Rev. Sr. Josephine Aimonota Ebuehi SSH, Superior General, Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
‘You are an epitome of a dedicated Priest of God’
Your Grace, you are an epitome of a dedicated Priest of God, giving your time, talent, wisdom, gentleness and humble service to humanity. May God who sees all our motives reward and bless you abundantly.
• Rev. Sr. Celestine Nevoh, OLA, Province Leader, Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles
