…As Kalu, Wabaras set sleepy town agog
From Okey Sampson, Aba
For the past 150 years, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ohambele, has remained steadfast in its campaign of winning souls for the kingdom of God. The church recently rolled out the drums in celebration of 150 years of the advent of Christianity in that part of the world.
Ohambele is the home of former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara, and his younger brother, former CEO of Hallmark Bank, Chief Marc Wabara. Ohambele is a sleepy, agrarian community in Ukwa East Local Government area of Abia State. It was in this rustic community that early European missionaries and traders came in 1865 to establish the Anglican Church in that part of the globe.
On the day of the anniversary, the community came alive as dignitaries from all walks of life converged on Ohambele. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, led a delegation comprising leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State to the event. Among those that came with Kalu were Hon. Donatus Nwankpa (APC state chairman), Comrade Chris Akomas (former Deputy Governor), Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Chief Nyerere Ayim (APC Abia guber candidate in 2015), Hon. Sam Nkire (APC BoT member), Mascott Uzor Kalu (former Chief of Staff to the Governor) and Chief Marshal Wokocha of Modum Associates Limited, among others.
Due to other engagements, Kalu and his entourage arrived the venue begind schedule. But as soon as his entourage arrived the church premises, the atmosphere became charged again, as some people who had already gone home came back to catch a glimpse of the former governor.
Speaking on the occasion, Kalu admonished Christians all over the world to always show appreciation when God has done something substantial to mankind. In his words, such appreciation would spur Him to do more.
The eminent businessman said that the light of God always shines on those who appreciate His good works, adding that those grateful for what God has done in their lives would always receive more from the creator.
The former governor, who was the special guest of honour, said it gladdened his heart that he was alive to see a church with great historical background in Christian faith reaching 150 years of its establishment.
Kalu described Marc Wabara, who invited him to the event, as a friend that has been a part of the Kalu family over the years, adding that he also came with the APC family in the state to join the Anglican Communion in Ukwa and the country at large as well as the Wabaras to celebrate the day.
In his speech, the chairman on the occasion, former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara, thanked the priests and authorities of the Anglican Church for keeping the history of the church from inception till date, stressing that it was a legacy that they should bequeath to the coming generation.
According to Wabara, so many communities in Abia State were yet to enjoy the gains of Christianity, which he said the Ohambele people had been enjoying for 15 decades in all areas of human endeavour. He thanked God for keeping him and others alive to witness the epoch-making occasion.
The chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Sir Marc Inyanabo Wabara, disclosed that the theme of the event, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,” was drawn from Romans 1:16.
Wabara said the significance of the day was to thank God for using the land of Ohambele as a point of contact to take the gospel of salvation to other communities, villages and states around the area.
He said: “We rejoice in this reminder of our privileged and historic status as the first Ndoki community to embrace Christianity. From time immemorial and ever before the establishment of Pax Britannica, our great Ohambele Kingdom has confronted and overcome untold conflicts, difficulties and hardships.”
In his homily, the Bishop of Ukwa Diocese, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Samuel Kelechi Eze, eulogised the early missionaries for bringing Christianity to the land of Ukwa and Ohambele in particular, an act that he said could only be done by people with courageous hearts. He noted that it wasn’t an easy task for them to convince the people to abandon their traditional religion for Christianity, a task which he said wasn’t an ordinary one at that time.
Eze, while urging Christians to imbibe the spirit of giving without murmuring, said there was nothing any person could give God that would be enough to repay Him for all He has done for mankind.
The bishop thanked the Ohambele people for allowing the early missionaries to settle in their locale, from where the gospel of Christ spread to other parts of Ukwa and its environs, noted that the coming of Christianity in present-day Abia State helped to stop many evil practices of those days, including the killing of twins, among others.
The church later honoured 37 persons, some departed and others alive, for their contributions towards the growth of the church and the propagation of God’s gospel in Ohambele. They included Adolphus Wabara, Marcus Wabara, and the oldest lay reader of the church, Chief Monday Nnah, among others.
There was also a special rendition of songs by the St. Paul’s Anglican choir, special prayers for the Ohambele Kingdom, the church and the country as a whole and cutting of the anniversary cake by the Bishop and other guests present on the occasion.