2011 – YEAR OF THE CHURCH? (5)

Evang Uma Ukpai... defend youselves!

"That report included a call from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor “on Christians in that part of the country to rise up to defend themselves whenever they come under attack by these mindless fundamentalists, stressing: ‘It really does not make any sense for a peace-loving Christian to watch his family members being slaughtered without doing anything to defend them’”. It also quoted renowned evangelist, Uma Ukpai, as saying, “there will be no end to the religious crisis in the North unless the Christians in the area take it upon themselves to defend their lives and property”... "

It doesn’t rain, it pours! The enemy of our souls has been pouring destruction and death on our brothers and sisters, young and old, in parts of Northern Nigeria. He has found willing tools in an agglomeration of misguided jihadists, empire-minded ethnic champions, and self-serving political warlords who then by force of indoctrination and financial inducement unleash their enforcers upon innocent people. It’s not a new phenomenon; it’s just a new phase of a war that can only become fiercer and costlier in lives and limbs unless decisively dealt with NOW.

If you wondering “why now,” I urge you to read (again) the earlier parts of this serial. I shall only repeat here one of the major planks upon which the serial and my postulations in it rests, namely that: “2011 and the first few years of this Jubilee decade have become of such strategic historical significance, essentially because of the comparative state of readiness of the Church as exemplified by the recent battles and victories already referred to. To put it as we did the last time, this writer is of the conviction that “for the first time in a long, long time, the Church seems willing in these days of the Lord’s power” (see Psalm 110:3).” This particular point is clearly demonstrated by the unequivocal rhetoric and actions of leaders of the church prior to and during the on-going voter registration project and the clear signals being sent to political actors concerning the conduct of the impending elections.

I have already identified the elections, and the need to protect the lives and properties of Christians in the country, particularly, the northern parts, as two major areas where the Church must go beyond the tame, some say lame, tentativeness of the past. I have also posited concerning the elections, that the Church must go beyond mobilizing Christians to register, select, vote and protect (rsvp) their votes.

The Church, I wrote last week, “must offer guidance to its congregation about how to select and vote. This needs to be done at two levels. The first is to encourage people, as individuals and groups to seek the face of God on who to vote for at each level. Our goal ought to be to cause the body of Christ to use the ballot to enforce the will of God; not our individual preferences. This is a critical assignment. The second level is at the level of influencing those who might not be spiritual enough to discern the voice of God and do not trust other vessels. The church must provide a kind of issues platform for such people. For instance, such a platform might include a demonstrable commitment to eradication of illiteracy; a welfare policy that assists the poor and the weak; denunciation of corruption, including public declaration of assets; and commitment to scriptural position on sexuality and sanctity of life. If this takes a Manhattan Declaration type of document, so be it.”

In this connection, I might as well add to the political platform, a commitment to the protection of the religious and property rights of Christians; including the right of churches to own property, all over the country, but especially in the North, where such rights are routinely denied.

Back however to this issue of protection of lives and limbs from the perennial rampage of the enemies of our faith and the role of the Church in it.  As I said last time, as recently as last week, “reports of fresh killing of our brethren in Maiduguri were hitting the airwaves and calls on Christians to “defend yourselves” were already going out..”A Vanguard newspaper report of that particular incident authored by Sam Eyoboka read in part: '... A Deeper Life Christian Church pastor and three of his neighbours were killed by fundamentalists. It was gathered that Michael Medugu, a district pastor in charge of Hausa church, was killed by a gang of four fundamentalists in his pharmaceutical shop while dispensing drugs to customers at about 7.05 p.m., leaving his wife and seven children to mourn him… Megudu had just returned to his shop after the day’s Leadership meeting in his church, where his pastor, Ama Awokoya, incidentally called on Christians to increase their prayers for peace in the region, saying: ‘Must they bring dead bodies to the church before we intensify prayers?’ How prophetic that turned out to be…”

That report included a call from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor “on Christians in that part of the country to rise up to defend themselves whenever they come under attack by these mindless fundamentalists, stressing: ‘It really does not make any sense for a peace-loving Christian to watch his family members being slaughtered without doing anything to defend them’”. It also quoted renowned evangelist, Uma Ukpai, as saying, “there will be no end to the religious crisis in the North unless the Christians in the area take it upon themselves to defend their lives and property”. During the week, Reverend Yuguda Midurvwa, who chairs the Borno State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), also added his voice in agreement.

 

So, a consensus seems to be building that Christians now need to defend themselves. It is a consensus that I subscribe to; but the question is how? By taking up AK 47s and fighting back or even making violent preemptive strikes? No, a thousand times, No! The Bible is so clear about this when it says: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). In other words, the Word is our weapon.

Like every weapon we need to learn to use it, and practice with it, till be become proficient in it. The Church has to arise in this respect in two ways. Those already proficient must see it as a duty to begin to use the word to protect their brethren. More critically and urgently, teachings on the efficacy of the “sword of the Spirit” must now take preeminence in all our churches without jettisoning our love message. (CONCLUDED)

2011 – YEAR OF THE CHURCH? (4)

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

"The first is to encourage people, as individuals and groups to seek the face of God on who to vote for at each level. Our goal ought to be to cause the body of Christ to use the ballot to enforce the will of God; not our individual preferences. This is a critical assignment. The second level is at the level of influencing those who might not be spiritual enough to discern the voice of God and do not trust other vessels. The church must provide a kind of issues platform for such people. For instance, such a platform might include a demonstrable commitment to eradication of illiteracy; a welfare policy that assists the poor and the weak; denunciation of corruption, including public declaration of assets; and commitment to scriptural position on sexuality and sanctity of life."

Two major triumphs in recent history, I have suggested, have brought the Nigerian Church to these defining moments – an historical juncture where it is being presented with options and opportunities from which it must, of necessity choose; a choice, which once made, will define its place in the national scheme of things.

The triumphs as pointed out in the earlier parts of this serial, were the successful transition from the former executive of Christian Association of Nigeria to the current Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor-led executive, in spite of the initial acrimony that attended the process. The second was the convening of the Christian Consultative Forum of Nigeria, which met, dispassionately surveyed the status quo, read Christians and their leaders something akin to the riot act in a communiqué and was mandated to draw up an action plan to refocus the body of Christ.

As stated last time, “of the several fronts where the church must make critical choices and take courageous actions, the April general elections and the opportunity for the Nigerian nation to chart a new course politically, economically and socially that they present.  And as recent events have confirmed, there’s also the never-been-more-urgent need for the protection of the lives and rights (religious and civil) of Nigerian Christians particularly in the north of Nigeria”.

And as has also been explained, 2011 and the first few years of this Jubilee decade have become of such strategic historical significance, essentially because of the comparative state of readiness of the Church as exemplified by the recent battles and victories already referred to. To put it as we did the last time, this writer is of the conviction that “for the first time in a long, long time, the Church seems willing in these days of the Lord’s power” (see Psalm 110:3).

The CCFN communiqué, I have been saying, clearly indicated “a dispassionate and, I believe, largely Holy Spirit-led diagnosis of the situation we faced then and still do today” and “can…provide the way forward for the Church as it seeks to be “salt and light” to our nation. The CCFN was a body convened by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor as President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, during the political crisis, which resulted from the ill-health and subsequent death of the late President Umar Yar’Adua.    

We noted last time that the communiqué emphasised in virtually every clause, the need for the Church to put its house in order, if it’s going to be able to “lead in the transformation of our nation…”

In this connection, it says, “the Church cannot be transformed if it has not been working to develop its own leaders and champions amongst its members. The church must therefore instil discipline amongst its members, sanction erring members and develop new leaders in the way of the Lord… restore the right values, re-establish high standards in corporate and public governance and social behaviour, and to adopt good discipline, and establish a reliable system for ensuring consistently good performance… its leaders must lead with integrity, honesty of purpose, and speak out forcefully against the ills of country’s leaders. The church must also teach and develop its members into leaders and must promote integrity and discipline, encourage austere living and generosity and discourage…materialism.”

 

Now, it is not clear how far the Forum has gone with its action plan. But one thing is certain, there is no better time to birth that plan than now when the convener of CCFN is the helmsman at the umbrella body, CAN and at this point where virtually everybody expects the Church to play a critical role in taking the Nigerian nation to the next level. To delay any further is to miss an historical opportunity to preserve this nation. Irrespective of the prevalent opinion that prognosis to the effect that the corporate existence of the nation is under severe threat, the reality is that those prognosis can only be dismissed to our peril. And you see, dear reader, it’s not just about our politics and economics; it’s about the morality, the values, the spiritual force that drives both.

The election provides the church an opportunity to step in with the force of Christian ethics to enable us get it right this time. For instance, the Register-Select-Vote-Protect (RSVP) campaign is quite good and the enthusiasm with which Nigerians are trooping out for the current voter registration exercise is indicative of a welcome change. But, I tell you, the Church must offer guidance to its congregation about how to select and vote. This needs to be done at two levels. 

The first is to encourage people, as individuals and groups to seek the face of God on who to vote for at each level. Our goal ought to be to cause the body of Christ to use the ballot to enforce the will of God; not our individual preferences. This is a critical assignment. The second level is at the level of influencing those who might not be spiritual enough to discern the voice of God and do not trust other vessels. The church must provide a kind of issues platform for such people. For instance, such a platform might include a demonstrable commitment to eradication of illiteracy; a welfare policy that assists the poor and the weak; denunciation of corruption, including public declaration of assets; and commitment to scriptural position on sexuality and sanctity of life. If this takes a Manhattan Declaration type of document, so be it.

Space, unfortunately does not allow me to take on the issue of protection of the lives and properties of Christians in the nation, generally but in the north of Nigeria in particular. As I write this, reports of fresh killing of our brethren in Maiduguri was hitting the airwaves and calls on Christians to “defend yourselves” were already going out. Do I agree with such calls and what choices are available to the Church? Please join me as I conclude (finally) this serial next week. Thank you.

2011 – YEAR OF THE CHURCH? (3)

Rev Dr Moses Iloh.

'I have cited the fact of Christian Association of Nigeria’s triumph over a seemingly uniquely Nigerian evil - manipulated elections - which instead of putting the church umbrella body asunder has left us more united, and therefore stronger than ever under the current Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor-led executive. For those who might think I am overrating the import of this singular victory, please recall that, the crisis became so bad that a church elder statesman like Rev Dr Moses Iloh even called for the birth of an alternative umbrella body. '

The point is being made in this serial that these are defining moments for the Nigerian Church; that, like every such moments do to individuals, bodies corporate and even nations, these moments present us options and opportunities from which we must, of necessity, make our choice, the choice, which once made, will define us.

It has been said that, of the several fronts where the church must make critical choices and take courageous actions, the April general elections and the opportunity for the Nigerian nation to chart a new course politically, economically and socially that they present.  And as recent events have confirmed, there’s also the never-been-more-urgent need for the protection of the lives and rights (religious and civil) of Nigerian Christians particularly in the north of Nigeria”.

In explaining how the Church arrived at this critical juncture, it has been suggested that 2011 and the first few years of this Jubilee decade have become of such strategic historical significance, not because of the above mentioned issues, since they are not new. It is comparative state of readiness of the Church itself; its recent battles and victories; its, for want of a better expression, combat readiness. In other words, this writer perceives that, for the first time in a long, long time, the Church seems willing in these days of the Lord’s power (see Psalm 110:3).

I have cited the fact of Christian Association of Nigeria’s triumph over a seemingly uniquely Nigerian evil - manipulated elections - which instead of putting the church umbrella body asunder has left us more united, and therefore stronger than ever under the current Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor-led executive. For those who might think I am overrating the import of this singular victory, please recall that, the crisis became so bad that a church elder statesman like Rev Dr Moses Iloh even called for the birth of an alternative umbrella body.  

Also cited was the coming together of some highly respected senior citizens with identifiable, exemplary Christian witness under the aegis of Christian Consultative Forum of Nigeria, which was convened by Pastor Oritsejafor as President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.  It was a development I described as one of the gains of the succession crisis, which resulted from the ill-health and subsequent death of the late President Umar Yar’Adua.   

The communiqué that emerged from that forum, excerpts of which were reproduced in this column last week, clearly indicated a dispassionate and, I believe, largely Holy Spirit-led diagnosis of the situation we faced then and still do today. It also can, as has been said here in the past provide the way forward. A few of the points made in the serial, “That CCFN Communiqué” can bear repetition here. So, here goes:

was the need to avoid the seeming lack of consensus to discourage the march towards putting in place an “action plan,” based on the communiqué, as was proposed at the forum. 

“The process of arriving at an action plan promises to be interesting, and controversial, because the Church is not yet that close-knit body that the Lord Jesus birthed, and is coming to rapture. If anything, we are a body seemingly suffering from Parkinson’s, with many of the parts, at best, reluctant to receive communication from or cooperate with the head, and with each other. Recall that, that meeting did not have representation from the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria. And the fact that a body like CCFN was required, in the first place, may also be saying something about the inclination or disinclination of sections of the Church on the issues at hand. But we must not be discouraged. The presence of Dr Christopher Kolade who was an Anglican organist, Mr Gamaliel Onosode a Baptist deacon, Mr Felix Ohiwerei, an elder from the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Mr Femi Pedro, a catholic, among many others, is indicative of an emerging consensus.

Doctrinal issues will also come up, hopefully for discussion and resolution rather than with confrontational arrogance. In fact, the communiqué raised one such issue up-front, as it were; the issue of prosperity. It immediately caught the attention of one of the respected readers of this column who sent in a comment (pointing out that prosperity must not be equated with materialism). But it is important to find common grounds on the major doctrinal issue of whether the church, in fact, does have a role in how the world around us, the world which we are in, is governed. I believe that, for far too long, the Church has allowed the enemy to sell us the lie that, politics is politics and faith is faith, the twain never meet. It is the same dummy many of us also bought concerning business, such that we keep our faith out of the work place; different rules for each!  Those of us who believe that the Church has roles and responsibilities to society, beyond praying for those in authority, and cleaning up their mess, need to prayerfully and lovingly get our brethren, who think otherwise, to see the need for change. Until they do however, we have to move full blast ahead with our conviction.”  

On this very important issue, the election of the current executive points to an improvement in the ambience. And as convener of the forum at which the communiqué was produced, he ought to be able to use his new-found leverage to widen the support base for the action plan. 

The other key issue identified as “one of the core challenges we face in the Church’s journey to national relevance; in the journey to, as one of the clauses in the CCFN communiqué put it, “lead in the transformation of our nation…” is what the CAN president has articulated as the Church “being salt and light to the world.” On this score, the CCFN communiqué was quite hard on the Church, rightfully so. It emphasised, in virtually every clause, the need for the Church to put its house in order, if it’s going to be able to lead”.

In concluding this serial next week, I’ll address this and the choices before the Nigerian Church, as I see it. (TO BE CONCLUDED)

2011 – YEAR OF THE CHURCH? (2)

CONTINUES BELOW

I was saying that these are defining moments for the Nigerian Church. With the assistance of famous devotional writer, Bob Gass, we said that defining moments show us who we really are; show others who we are and, determine who we will become. Defining moments, the man of God concluded, give us an opportunity to turn, change direction, and seek a new destination. They present options and opportunities. In these moments, we must choose. And the choice we make will define us!”

I identified two of several fronts where the church must make critical choices and take courageous actions as, “… the impending general elections and the opportunity for socio-economic and political changes that they present and; the protection of lives and properties of adherents of the faith particularly in the north of Nigeria”.

I also posited that “what makes 2011 and the first few years of this Jubilee decade so defining for the Church are not the above mentioned events; it is ironically, the challenges the church has faced and scaled, and the activities and the successes achieved in 2010…”  

I then identified one of the successes that have positioned the church for the historic role Christian Association of Nigeria, as a result of the crisis that occasioned its last national executive committee elections. It was a crisis that became so bad that a church elder statesman like Rev Dr Moses Iloh was calling for an alternative body. But as it turned out, it was a crisis which the enemy plotted for evil, but like the sale of Joseph into slavery in Bible times, God allowed for good. For, if current trends continue, the Church has never been more united, and therefore stronger than under the current Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor-led executive.

The other 2010 event that has brought the Church to these defining moments actually predated the above-mentioned crisis and the victory.  It was the coming together of some highly respected senior citizens with identifiable, exemplary Christian witness under the aegis of Christian Consultative Forum of Nigeria. Convened by Pastor Oritsejafor, then just President of  Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria,  the body weighed in towards the end of the succession crisis which resulted from the ill-health and subsequent death of President  Umar Yar’Adua.  It was a development that I saw as a “welcome rise…from slumber.”  I, in fact, described the convening of the group at that particular juncture in our national journey as one of the gains of that crisis. This, as was stated then, was because, although it was said to have been borne out of “an apostolic summit held by some of Nigeria's front running Christian leaders on November 2, 2009”, it did seem as if it was that crisis that propelled it from the drawing board to action.

Although the action was not more than a call “on political leaders in the country to adhere to the constitution in efforts to resolve the political quagmire and leadership issue caused by the absence of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.”  It clearly portended new possibilities in Christianity’s engagement with the Nigerian polity over issues of national importance.  Also, one of the forum’s objectives reflected a new determination to avoid passivity in the business of nation building. Henceforth, he said then, the body of Christ was going to be involved in the task of transforming “the nation into a progressive, equitable and developed nation”.  

That objective explained why the Forum, attended, among others, by former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade; board room icon and one-time presidential aspirant, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, a former Chairman of Nigeria Breweries Plc, Elder Felix Ohiwerei, former Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd),  and university don, Professor Adamu Baikie, did not stop at addressing the then power vacuum crisis, it issued a powerful communique. CONTINUES BELOW   

That communiqué read by Mr Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State read in part: “The Forum noted that for the church to lead in the turn around, it must get itself to a level of building a new Nigeria on integrity, which involves attributes like competence, faithfulness, probity, transparency, commitment, courage, ethical values and behaviour and accountability.

“…Therefore, reiterate that the church is neither a social institution nor a political party, but a spiritual fellowship for Christians and its only agenda is that of God. And that is, through this agenda, that our Christian leaders must be consistently courageous to teach all men (both leaders and followers) to observe all things that Christ has commanded;

“…Concluded that the church must lead in the transformation of our nation, its leaders must lead with integrity, honesty of purpose, and speak out forcefully against the ills of country’s leaders. The church must also teach and develop its members into leaders and must promote integrity and discipline, encourage austere living, and generosity and discourage prosperity and materialism.”

“…Recognised that the church cannot be transformed if it has not been working to develop its own leaders and champions, amongst its members. The church must therefore instil discipline amongst its members, sanction erring members and develop new leaders in the way of the Lord. We therefore, need to restore the right values, re-establish high standards in corporate and public governance and social behaviour, and to adopt good discipline, and establish a reliable system for ensuring consistently good performance. In addition, the church should not promote materialism and prosperity gospel, but encourage austere living and generosity.”

Now, that communiqué was to be developed into an action plan for the Church. It is not clear how far these wise men have gone with the plan, but the fact that the convener of that Forum now sits atop CAN has increased the chances of it being a veritable tool for national transformation.

As readers of this column might remember, we tried to analyse the communiqué, last year. We will recall some of the highlights next time in the belief that it will assist us to understand why the Church must act now. (CONTINUES)

2011 – YEAR OF THE CHURCH?

CONTINUES BELOW

Defining moments come for individuals, nations and groups. For Dr Goodluck Jonathan, those moments are here and this columnist has done its utmost to point it out in order that he might not waste it – to little avail, to date, at least.

In one of my exertions in this respect, I had to press into action, a devotional piece written by Bob Cass, based on Joshua 24:15 and titled, Defining Moments. It reads: “…First, in our life, defining moments show us who we really are. Our defining moments usually come …during times of making… a hard choice. Sometimes, defining moments occur when we don't see them for what they are. It's only afterwards…that we understand their importance. Either way, they define who we are. Secondly, defining moments show others who we are. Most days we can wear a mask, but during defining moments we can't…Whatever is truly inside us is revealed to everyone. As a leader, defining moments tell the people who you really are, what you stand for, and why you're leading. Handled well, a defining moment can bond leaders and followers for life. Handled poorly, it can end your ability to lead. Thirdly, defining moments determine who we will become. You'll never be the same person after a defining moment. That's because defining moments are not normal... Defining moments…give us an opportunity to turn, change direction, and seek a new destination. They present options and opportunities. In these moments, we must choose. And the choice we make will define us!”

Those moments are here for the Nigerian Church on several fronts. The first is the impending general elections and the opportunity for socio-economic and political changes that they present. The second, closely related to the first, is the protection of lives and properties of adherents of the faith particularly in the north of Nigeria.

What makes 2011 and the first few years of this Jubilee decade so defining for the Church are not the above mentioned events; it is ironically, the challenges the church has faced and scaled, and the activities and the successes achieved in 2010. A couple of flashbacks should refresh all our memories and assist an understanding of this historic moment.

Readers of this column may remember that the process of electing a new executive for the umbrella body of the church, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), was so contentious that I had to do a two-part serial titled, “CAN AND CHURCH UNITY: “…DO WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER?”

I remember lamenting in the first part in these words: “While I was busy celebrating the many and varied strides of giant proportions being taking globally to achieve the heart of Christ for His Church – THAT THEY MAY BE ONE – the body that could be described as an instrument of church unity in Nigeria was threatening to come unstuck.

“While, I was talking excitedly about how thousands of church leaders gathered for Edinburgh 2010 in the Scottish capital to find unity through missions;  and how 1300 churches across the earth were participating in global pulpit swap, hearing the same message and raising funds to plant new congregations in China and Cambodia etc through the One Prayer initiative of an US-based church, and gleefully announcing the merger of the Reformed Churches into one big happy family, the Christian Association of Nigeria was pulling in the opposite direction.

“While I was thanking God for using Bro Cyprian Agbazue and the ministry of International Foundation for Church Unity to jolt me back from underplaying the church unity mandate of the about-to-return KINGDOMPeople, the magazine for all who name the name of the Lord in truth and scolding myself for nearly missing it, CAN was in the news not for uniting Christ’s Church, but for threatening to tear it apart. How ironic, how so, so tragically so…

“For those who might not have heard it; yes, leadership, or, if you like, the struggle for office or power was at the centre of the crisis. In other words, flawed elections, which has been the torment of our nation and, for which politicians and umpires have been vilified, has clawed its way into the church’s highest body. In the event, reports of intrigues, external interference, use of operatives of the State Security Service, and umpire partisanship have been making the rounds. Deliberate attempt to exclude one of the aspirants has been alleged. To drive home the unenviable similarity between what’s happening on the political scene and in the church, a newspaper two-part series on the exercise that has been on since March, was headlined “Like PDP, Like CAN? as Succession War Tears Christian Body Apart.”  CONTINUES BELOW

I’ll spare you the ugly details, since, thanks be to God, it’s all in the past now. But it got so bad that Rev Dr Moses Iloh, a respected Church elder statesman actually asked that the association be disbanded. In a newspaper article at the height of the crisis headlined, “Quo Vadis CAN”, the one-time Director of Welfare of the association concluded in these words: “Not too long ago, I posited that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as presently composed and functioning, should be terminated and dismantled. It is a purposeless organisation, and one that relishes in “Phariseeism.” Denominations should meet, dialogue, and eventually agree to form a disciplined, humble, purposeful and forward-looking organisation to be known as ‘The Church in Nigeria.’”

Eventually however, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor took office on Tuesday July 6, 2010 as President of Christian Association of Nigeria, the first Pentecostal to hold the office. It was a happy ending to a four-month process, which featured, for the very first time, a very public display of all that was despicable about elections into public office in our nation. Oritsejafor’s main opponent, Archbishop John Onaiyekan promptly accepted defeat and congratulated the new helmsman while his other opponent, Most Rev Daniel Okoh has since joined the new team as Vice President (CONTINUES).