Igbomina Diocese: Church members insist Bishop Adekola must go

The crisis rocking Igbomina Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) reached a tipping point on Saturday as members of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael, Esie in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State distanced themselves from a Reconciliation Thanksgiving Service said to have been planned by Bishop Emmanuel Adeoye Adekola.

The Bishop is reportedly planning to conduct the service at the Cathedral on Sunday, December 20, 2020.

But a statement issued on Saturday in Esie said that a decision has been reached by all the branches of the cathedral and the Anglican Churches in Esie town not to host or allow such service to be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael.

The members declared that “all arrangements related to the said Reconciliation Thanksgiving Service are personal to Bishop Adekola. The Cathedral has no hand in it and cannot allow any imposed, self centred reconciliation service to hold.”

They insisted that no such service will be allowed to hold in Esie until after the departure of Bishop Adekola who, they claimed, has polarized the Diocese and created wranglings that were non existent under his predecessor.

According to the statement, the members have long concluded that “Bishop Adekola can no longer be our Spiritual leader and the stand of the Cathedral people at home and in the diaspora has been repeatedly made clear to the Primate of our Church.”

The statement added that the decision to reject and release Bishop Adekola from the Cathedral cannot be reversed as his autocratic leadership style is unsuitable for the peace and growth of the Church.

The statement also revealed that  a letter had earlier been written to the Archbishop of Kwara Province of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) on the irreversible decision to part ways with Bishop Adekola.

The letter reiterated that the letter of quit notice given to Bishop Adekola cannot be reversed; he must go.

“Bishop Adekola must not for any reason come near the Cathedral premises because he is no longer our Bishop. He should also vacate the Bishop's Court located in Esie,” the letter stated.