After 180 years of Methodism in the country, His Grace Most Rev (Dr) Oliver Ali Aba, the first Northerner, assumed office as the new Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria on Sunday.
His Eminence Aba who is the immediate past Bishop of Benue takes over from the outgoing Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence (Dr) Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, JP, who retired after his 10 years of service at the duty post.
This was as President Muhammadu Buhari had on August 17 felicitated Most Rev. Oliver Ali Aba and commended the premier church for the peaceful and transparent 48th/13th Biennial Conference in Abuja which led to the emergence of a new leader.
Read also
- Abducted Methodist Church Prelate, Two other priests freed
- CAN, PFN Angry over abduction of MCN Prelate, Samuel Uche
- Emmanuel tasks Pastors on selfless service as Church ordains four new Bishops
Performing the investiture, Uche reminded the new Prelate that the word of God was placed over his head when he was elected Prelate, consecrated as Bishop and invested with the new office to strengthen him to impart the flock.
Prelate Uche urged his successor to take authority in the word and continually spread the gospel of Christ and lead the Church of God to greater heights.
Meanwhile, the New Methodist Prelate has commenced duties, having conducted the service at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos State.
A glance at the citation of the new Prelate shows that Oliver Aba was ordained a Presbyter in 1998, after serving as a priest from 1993 to 1997.
Born on May 27, 1960, His Eminence Oliver Aba, who was ordained and consecrated Bishop in 2002 was elected and consecrated as Archbishop in August 2013.
The new Methodist Prelate was elected on August 24, 2022, at the 48th/13th Biennial Conference of the Methodist Church Nigeria, held at the Cathedral of Unity, Wuse, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Some of the guests at the ceremony were the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represented by his wife, Senator Remi; the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi; the Governor of Benue State, Mr Samuel Ortom, and many others.
Christianity was established in Nigeria with the arrival in 1842 of a Wesleyan Methodist Church missionary.
