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 Published
January 12th, 2011
One of the key lessons to
draw from the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
during their fiery furnace ordeal as recorded in the book of
Daniel is Principle based on their personal knowledge of
Yahweh. This informed their readiness to die for Yahweh’s
cause. Although preachers quite often dwell on the miracle
of divine intervention and their divine deliverance from the
furnace, it is essential not to overlook their readiness to
die even if their God chose not to deliver them from the
fiery furnace. ‘If we are thrown into the blazing
furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and
he will deliver us…But even if he does not, we want you to
know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or
worship the image of gold you have set up.’ (Dan.3:
17-18). It would seem here that not only were the Hebrew
trio confident of divine intervention but they were also
prepared to die should God decide not to intervene. This
would not be because God is incapable of delivering them but
because of divine freedom, his sovereign right to choose to
do or not to do. Standing up for what you believe is
symbolic of great integrity. Anyone who cannot stand for
something cannot stand for anything. This is something that
is most lacking in our country today especially among our
politicians who enjoy running from one political party to
another to sustain themselves; yet it would seem to me to be
summarise the person of Emmanuel Bolanle Oluyide Gbonigi,
the first bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Akure
(1983-2000) and someone I am proud to call my father-in-the
Lord. He is a man of integrity, courage and unparalleled
principle, even to a fault.
As is often said, ‘some men are
born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness
thrust upon them’. For Emmanuel Gbonigi, he was not only
born great he has also achieved greatness. His greatness
does not consist in material wealth, neither was he born in
a royal family. Rather, his greatness consists in his
Christian upbringing and in his personal knowledge and
encounter with God in Christ Jesus. The ensuing
transformation shaped his life and made his greatness.
The man Emmanuel Bolanle
Oluyide Gbonigi, a native of Irun Akoko, Ondo State,
Nigeria, was born on January 11, 1931 at Oke-Agbe, Akoko to
late Pa Jeremiah and Mrs Comfort Adeyiola Gbonigi when his
father, Pa Jeremiah Gbonigi was a catechist at Oke-Agbe. His
birth occurred when his catechist-father was taking a church
service on a Sunday making the birth very special. After his
elementary education at both Irun and Kabba, he passed his
Standard Six examinations in 1946. Between 1947and 1952, he
worked as a primary school teacher at St John’s School,
Ogidi, now Kogi State; St Stephen’s School, Uro-Akoko; and
United School, Igasi-Akoko. On receiving his calling to the
Christian ministry, he proceeded to train as a catechist at
Melville Hall, Ibadan from 1952-1954. After his training he
was posted to St Peter’s Church, Aremo, Ibadan (now
Cathedral) until 1956 when he returned to Melville Hall, the
Anglican theological institute, Ibadan for his ordination
training, which he completed in 1959.
At College he demonstrated his
leadership qualities and abilities; he held many posts among
which were the Librarian; the Captain of the Boys’ Brigade
Officer Cadet Company; and President of the Student
Christian Movement. In his final year after the merging of
Melville Hall with the Wesleyan Methodist Training
Institute, to become Immanuel College of Theology, Emmanuel
Gbonigi became the Senior Student (President of the Student
body). In all these, one thing that marked him out was his
deep spirituality. It is said that there was an evident
transformation in his life after his training, which can
only be attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit.
On completion of his
training he was ordained into the Holy Orders first as a
Deacon in 1959 and later as a priest in 1960. He served his
title at St John’s Anglican Church, Jago, Ibadan,
from1959-1963. From there he was sponsored by the Diocese of
Ibadan to do a course in Christian Education specialising in
Youth Work at Westhill College, Selly Oak, Birmingham, UK,
between 1963 and 1964. On returning to Nigeria he was
appointed the Diocesan Youth Chaplain and Bishop’s Chaplain
to the Bishop of Ibadan. He demonstrated great skills and
excellence to the extent that he was appointed to teach at
Immanuel College of Theology from 1966-1971.
In 1971, the Revd Gbonigi
left for the Unites States of America to start a course of
study at Perkins School of Theology of the Southern
Methodist University, leading to the award of the degree of
Master of Theology (MTh) of the University in 1974. During
his studies he served as a priest at Epiphany Episcopal
Church, Dallas, Texas, USA from 1972-1974. Later, Revd
Gbonigi proceeded on recommendation to Texas Christian
University, Fort Worth, to pursue the degree of Doctor of
Ministry (D. Min), which he completed in 1976.
Dr Gbonigi returned to
lecture at Immanuel College in 1976 and remained there until
1981. At Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan he held
various positions of responsibility the climax of which was
his appointment as the Vice-Principal of the College in
1978. In 1979, he was preferred Canon of St James’
Cathedral, Ibadan and in 1981 Canon Dr Gbonigi was elected
and appointed the Provost of the Cathedral Church of St
James, Ibadan, a position he held until he was elected
bishop for the proposed Diocese of Akure by the College of
Bishops of the nascent Church of Nigeria, in December 1982.
On the feast of St Matthias, on
February 25, 1983, the Very Revd Dr Emmanuel Bolanle Oluyide
Gbonigi was consecrated bishop of Akure alongside the Ven.
Jeremiah Akeredolu and the Very Revd Abraham Awosan, who
were consecrated bishops for the proposed dioceses of Akoko
and Owo respectively, at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Oke-Aluko,
Ondo.
March 2, 1983, remains a
red-letter day in the history of Christianity in Akure,
especially within the Anglican Communion. At a very solemn
but colourful service, at which I was present, presided over
the Most Revd Timothy Omotayo Olufosoye, OON, STh, DD,
Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of
Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Bishop Emmanuel Bolanle
Oluyide Gbonigi, MTh, DMin, was duly enthroned into the
real, actual and corporate possession of the bishopric of
the new Anglican Diocese of Akure. This was not only a new
phase in the life of the Gbonigi family but it also marked a
new phase in the history of the Christian faith in what was
until then Akure and Idanre Archdeaconries. St David’s
Church, Ijomu, Akure, which had first received missionaries
in 1897, when Christianity first got to Akure, and had been
the seat of the Archdeacon of Akure Archdeaconry thus became
the Anglican Cathedral in the Ondo State capital. With the
inauguration of Akure Diocese, St David’s Church became the
church to house the throne-Grk. kathedra- of the
bishop, the symbol of the teaching and preaching ministry of
the diocesan bishop.
It was an epoch-making
event and every one agreed that a spiritual giant had
arrived Akure. The events of the following 18 years were a
great testament to this. It was on December 31, 2000 that
Bishop Gbonigi bowed out of full time Episcopal ministry
preparatory to attaining his 70th birthday on
January 11, 2001, the statutory age of retirement for
Anglican clergy in Nigeria,
The diocese that began
with about 58 places of worship and 30 church workers had
grown enormously; with more training being organised for
both clergy and the laity. He identified what was necessary
and as soon as he believed the diocese had had enough
respite from the demands of getting a new diocese, he moved
the diocese into starting a secondary school later called St
Matthias Anglican High School, Akure, following the old St
Matthias’ Teachers’ College. A nursery and primary school
was also established called Bishop Falope Memorial Nursery
and Primary School Akure, in honour of late Canon (later
Bishop) J.A.I. Falope, an erstwhile Principal of St
Matthias’ College.
It is difficult to quantify the
many contributions or skills of this great man of God. It
soon became evident that Akure had been blessed with a great
pastor and teacher, a fearless preacher of the word and a
great prophet of God. With the darkness that beclouded our
land with incessant military administrations Bishop Gbonigi
became the ‘Prophet Amos’ or ‘Prophet Jeremiah’ of our time.
Successive Military Governors or Administrators in Ondo
State quickly realised that they had a great opponent in
Ondo State. Truly Bishop Gbonigi kept them on their toes.
Even the Federal Military Government was not spared, through
his eloquent sermons and the apt and powerful Bishop’s
Charges delivered to the Synods of the Anglican Diocese of
Akure. His was like a voice crying in the wilderness. Even
when it seemed like a lone voice he never gave up; neither
was he afraid of what the military might do, as long as it
was a cry against injustice. To say that he was fearless,
bold and courageous is simply to state the obvious.
Bishop Gbonigi was among the
first, if not the first, to publicly criticise the
Buhari/Idiagbon regime when he said detention without trial
is ungodly and unjust, apparently referring to the
incarceration without trial of many politicians from the
defunct Second Republic, including the late Chief Michael
Adekunle Ajasin, who was eventually discharged and
acquitted. Rather than acquiesce, Baba Gbonigi continued
without fail during the successive regime of Ibrahim
Babangida, the evil genius.
No history of military
rule and their exit from Nigerian politics will be complete
without a mention of the role of Emmanuel Gbonigi the
fearless Anglican bishop who spoke against unrighteousness,
injustice, crime, greed and dictatorship. Indeed, no one
will forget his inspired sermon that predicted an
unprecedented divine intervention to bring an end to the
power-drunk, brutal and wicked era of Abacha, the man in
dark goggles. Ondo State will forever remember the ministry
of the first Anglican Bishop of Akure.
This ministry was built
on prayer and genuine conviction. The midday prayer he
personally led in his office is a tradition that cannot be
forgotten. Much more, his ministry was rooted in integrity.
He would not compromise his principle for any reason, not
even for monetary gain. It would be recalled that during the
crisis that engulfed Nigeria precipitated by the Abacha
Regime he was invited to Abuja along with others to discuss
the way forward. While all were offered money for fuel
Bishop Gbonigi did not collect any money. When he was called
to present a position paper in Lagos during the
Abdusalam-Akhigbe Government, the money that was given to
participants, Bishop Gbonigi brought to his diocesan synod
at Igbaraoke and donated for a charitable cause.
It is impossible to
overstate the value of his ministry as a diligent teacher
and gifted expositor of the word of God. Bishop Gbonigi’s
sermons were mostly expository. He preached as though he was
with St Paul or any of the other apostles when they wrote
their letters to the young churches in the first century.
His was a diligent and careful exposition taking seriously
the questions of exegesis rather than eisegesis,
a skill that is not found among many of today’s
televangelists and pastors. As one of his students in the
Diocesan Lay readers’ School in 1984 and 1985, I cannot
forget how this has also impacted our own ministry. Apart
from his loving reconciliation spirit, it is largely due to
his sermons that Igbaraoke Archdeaconry began to contemplate
returning to Akure Diocese after the initial politics that
saw them withdraw from the application for the proposed
Akure Diocese in 1981.
The awe and reverence in
his conduct of worship has been a great challenge and
inspiration to us and, indeed, to many serious-minded
clergy. Photographers who ever encountered him in a church
service would remember he took exception to undue and
excessive interference of photographers in worship. To say
that he is a disciplinarian and a loving minister is to
state the obvious. The combination of these two attitudes
should remind any theologian of the divine attribute of
righteousness wherein love and justice are held together
without contradiction.
Bishop Gbonigi’s
contributions to Christian theology in Nigeria and beyond
are unquantifiable. Like Bishop Awosan, Baba Gbonigi taught
many in Immanuel College who are today leading bishops and
Archbishops in both the Anglican and Methodist Churches in
Nigeria. His commitment to theological education has
produced many pastors, graduate priests and theologians. His
recent investiture as Chancellor of the West African
Theological Seminary, Lagos where he had formerly served as
Chair of the Governing Board is a further testimony to this.
Many have also benefited
from his efforts in securing both local bursary and overseas
scholarship for pastors to study theology within and outside
Nigeria. I am a beneficiary of this and I could not write
the story of my postgraduate studies without duly
acknowledging his efforts and encouragement. Here is a
theologian who has raised many theologians; a father of
bishops and scholars in whom the rare combination of
theology and spirituality is displayed with dexterity and
comfort.
Bishop Gbonigi’s leadership role
as Chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican
Communion (EFAC) Nigeria for many years endeared him to many
evangelical pastors and youths in the Anglican Church of
Nigeria.
Although he is said to be
in retirement these last 10 years, Baba has hardly been
idle. He has continued on the vanguard of justice and
peacemaking, challenging injustice and calling for an
egalitarian society. His role as the President of Yoruba
Parapo can hardly be forgotten plus his efforts at
reconciling different Yoruba socio-cultural groups. He has
earned the respect and admiration of all, Christians and
non-Christians alike.
At 80 Baba Gbonigi
continues to serve the Lord and his society. His involvement
in the formation of the Congress on Christian Ethics in
Nigeria (COCEN) in 1997 is not to be forgotten. By his
calling and ministry, Baba Gbonigi has achieved greatness
and has touched the lives of many. The man who did not go to
secondary school equipped himself to an enviable academic
level. His knowledge of both English and Yoruba languages is
impeccable, to the extent that journalists named him a
reporter’s delight.
As it is said, behind every
successful man is a diligent and great woman. We celebrate
the support of Mrs Alice Ebun Gbonigi who has supported Baba
since their wedding in 1961. Mama’s own sterling qualities
are evident in the quality of leadership she provided for
the Diocesan Women’s Organisations in Akure. Those of us who
have met her on the home front and elsewhere would attest to
the grace of God upon her life. We rejoice in the Lord for
the beautiful and godly children with which He has blessed
them.
On his 80th birthday,
we celebrate the life of a learned and godly man of God, a
no-nonsense cleric, a theological teacher and
mentor-theologian,
a fearless and courageous preacher, a dedicated
pastor and a spiritual giant, a reporter’s delight, a Church
prelate and a 20th Century African Church Father;
a true Anglican evangelical in whom there is no guile.
Indeed, we celebrate a father of EFAC Nigeria, a formidable
soldier of Christ. It is remarkable that this man of God is
being celebrated in his lifetime. Many activities have been
lined up to celebrate his 80th birthday in Akure
from the 10th to the 15th of January,
2011, among which are a Holy Communion Service at Archbishop
Vining College of Theology, Akure on Tuesday 11th
January; a Book Presentation in his honour and a
thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Church of St David,
Ijomu, Akure on Saturday the 15th at which the
Primate and Metropolitan Archbishop of Nigeria is expected
to preach, followed by a befitting reception.
This is a well-deserved
celebration by a servant of God per excellence. Punctuality
in worship and meetings, neat clerical and Episcopal habits
endear him to so many of us so much that we cannot afford to
be careless with our robes and clerical wears. As a result
of the training I received from him in the lay reader’s
school during my days as a reader, I have since cultivated
the habit of using ‘wash and wear’ or any appropriate
materials for my surplice. So many are the lessons that we
have learnt from Emmanuel Gbonigi that they cannot be
catalogued here.
Here is to wish Baba
Emmanuel Bolanle Oluyide Gbonigi, the first Anglican bishop
of Akure diocese, a man I am proud to call my father-in-the
Lord, a very Happy 80th Birthday. Igba odun, odun
kan o!
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