... Dr Williams, Ogebe, others appreciate God for His faithfulness

By JOHN ANTHONY IKWULONO

It was a spirit-filled, special Easter celebration on Sunday, April 4, 2021 in the life of the people of Adagbo Agatu, Benue State, for not just having a gigantic edifice and place of worship handed over to them, but also having reassuring words of Hope in their lives from Governor Samuel Ortom and others who referred to them as peace-loving people.

The Governor at the occasion promised to enhance agriculture and facilitate developmental projects in Adagbo Agatu, referring to Agatu again as his second home.

The event was the dedication of the newly built Methodist Church. Governor Ortom appreciated Dr William PB Devlin from the United States of America and Nigeria’s US-based international human rights lawyer, Barr Emmanuel Ogebe, for building such gigantic edifice for the people of Agatu.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Hon Joseph Odaudu, the Governor commended Adagbo people for embracing peace despite the level of destruction on their properties by Fulani herdsmen some years back which equally led to the death of many. He pledged to support the Church with some amount of money to enable it do other things as a way of complementing what Williams and his team had done.

The Governor urged philanthropists who are indigenes of the state to emulate what Americans did in Agatu, saying that it was a big challenge for them to have people from outside Nigeria to remember them this way. He encouraged herdsmen and others to go into ranching to avoid destruction of farmers’ crops.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Hon Sule Adoyi, thanked Dr Williams and Barr Ogebe “for this huge support to Christians by building this structure,” saying that he lacked works to appreciate them. He urged Adagbo people to guard the Church jealously.

Hon Adoyi said that even though he had earlier directed his deputy to represent him, he decided to rush down and witness the exercise due to the importance he attached to the project.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Williams expressed joy for the opportunity given him and Barr Ogebe to affect the lives of Adagbo people positively. He said he felt fulfilled as God used them to wipe away tears from the faces of the people of Adagbo.

In his address, Barr Ogebe, who facilitated the building of the Church, gave brief history of how he came across the destroyed Church in 2016 when no resident of Adagbo and other villages were around due to the effect of the crisis which made people to desert their homes. He said that he quickly told God that; “because I passed through this route to see this destroyed Church in this way, it will never remain the same and my joy is that, today what the people have gotten is far better than what they had before, that was destroyed by herdsmen.” He said for the sake of this project, Dr William had visited Nigeria four times within five months, appreciating him for his love for the people. He cited Joel 2:1-32 and Ephesians 2:22.

Very Rev. John Oyinu, Presbyter in charge of Obagaji Circuit in Apa Diocese, gave an inspiring sermon from 1st Chronicles 29:10-14, Ephesians 2:14-22, and Matthew 1613-18.

The Vice Chairman of Agatu LGC, Hon John Ikwulono, Barr Emmanuel Ogebe and Gyasi Summerville from New York City read the first, second and third readings for the day.

Gyasi thanked Dr Williams for what he has done and for making him to be part of his entourage to Nigeria – his first to Africa.

The dedication event featured captivating dance by different dance groups/choirs as the representative of the Governor, Hon Joseph Odaudu, ordered everyone to dance to the glory of God with himself leading as a mark of joy.

Another side attraction was a novelty match between Abugbe and Adagbo, who clashed on the dedication eve, parting on even scores.

•Hon. John Anthony Ikwulono is Vice Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council.

Update news