ODUTEMU'S ELEVATION TO ARCHBISHOP, WELL-DESERVED - Okowa

The Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated Rt. Rev. Cyril Odutemu on his election as the Archbishop of Bendel Province of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. Okowa said that Odutemu's elevation was well-deserved given his antecedents as a firebrand preacher and outstanding administrator. In a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Monday in Asaba, the governor said that the people of Ughelli Diocese, Deltans and Nigerians were proud of his elevation as Archbishop of Bendel province. He noted that the Bishop-elect emerged from a ``highly competitive selection process’’, but said that he wasn't surprised at his emergence to occupy the exalted office. According to him, Odutemu’s emergence as Archbishop-elect of Bendel Province of the Anglican Communion did not come to me as a surprise. It is divinely-earned, given his pedigree, including his great ways of preaching the gospel and deep administrative prowess. The governor urged the Archbishop-elect to ensure that there was peace, growth and development in the Anglican Communion in Delta and Edo which made up the Bendel Province. ``On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate an illustrious Deltan, a man of unassailable integrity and an epitome of humility, Rt. Rev. Cyril Odutemu, on his elevation to the Archbishop of Bendel Province of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.  “With your resounding intellect, great pastoral zeal and compassion, you have over the years risen above board by preaching the word of faith towards repentance. "It is our prayer that in your new position, God uses you to counsel and move the entire Bendel Province, Anglican Communion in the direction in which you have been ordained to lead,’’ he said. Until his emergence as Archbishop-elect, Odutemu was presiding Bishop of Ughelli Diocese of the Church and was recently inaugurated as Chairman, Delta State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Okowa wished him God’s guidance and success at his new post.