Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has congratulated the outgoing Bishop of the Niger Delta West Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, on his elevation and re-assignment as Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese.
Bishop Oko-Jaja served in Bayelsa State for over 12 years but has been elected and translated to the Niger Delta Diocese covering Akwa Ibom, Abia and Rivers states.
Governor Diri, who appreciated the cleric for his services to the state and the people during a courtesy visit alongside his wife and other diocesan officials on Wednesday in Government House, Yenagoa, urged him to continue to impact on humanity through his new position.
The governor equally commended the Anglican Church for finding Oko-Jaja, who is of Ijaw extraction, worthy of the position accorded him.
His words: “You are part and parcel of this state. Having lived here for over 12 years, only very few people do not know the name Oko-Jaja. And I’m equally happy that you are an Ijaw man.
“Now we have our brothers rising to the top echelon of the Anglican Church. We have one from Bayelsa and you from Rivers. Both of you are Ijaws. So we are very happy that you will impact on the Ijaws and humanity in your career.
“We wish that the way you served well in Bayelsa that earned you this promotion, God will grant you the grace to even do better in your new elevation.
“My Lord Bishop, it is an understatement to say we are going to miss you. You worked and prayed for us. There was no invitation to you that you did not honour. Our prayer is that God brings somebody like you to fill that vacancy. So, on behalf of your government and people of the state, I appreciate you for your services to our state, our ethnic nationality and the Anglican Communion.”
Speaking earlier, Bushop Emmanuel Oko-Jaja described Bayelsa as home to him and his family, stating that he enjoyed support from the state government and the people.
The respected cleric also expressed gratitude to God for His grace during his episcopal journey of 12 years and five months, which covered Yenagoa, Brass, Nembe, Southern Ijaw and some parts of Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas of the state.
He said his elevation to the mother diocese of the Niger Delta was a divine call to serve humanity in the Anglican Church and to impact the body of Christ positively.
The Bishop also appreciated Governor Diri for constructing the access road to the Anglican Primate Secretariat, which will house the Anglican University in the state.
