CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background to the Study Acts of conflict and violence occur daily in different parts of the world. This is due to a variety of motives, which include political fanaticism, ethnic hatred, religious extremism and ideological differences. Conflict is perennial and an ingredient towards the actualization of individual and group interests. According to S.A. Ayinla, it is a natural announcement of an impending re-classification of a society with changed characteristics and goals and with new circumstances of survival and continuity1. Conflict is a universal human experience. Its origin and nature are best explained within the framework of human nature and environment in which man lives2.Conflicts and violence are common factors in both secular and sacred institutions. In spite of the fact that the church is believed to be a holy institution ordained by God, she has never at any time outgrown conflicts and violence. This is due to the fact that, the affairs of the church are administered by human beings who are not always perfect or faultless. By 1975, the Warri Diocese, Anglican Communion, had not existed as a corporate Christian entity. The year _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1S.A Ayinla (ed.) Issues in Political Violence in Nigeria, llorin: Hamson Printers, 2005, p.19. 2O.I. Albert, Tinu Awe et al (eds) Informal Channels for Conflict Resolution in Ibadan, Nigeria. Ibadan Inter Printer 1992 p.2 1 witnessed real grassroots mobilization for its creation3. But by the year 2000, the Diocese had existed for over twenty years and had given birth to two other Dioceses, viz; Ughelli and Oleh (Isoko) Dioceses. Before this stage was reached, Warri Diocese had some prospects for growth, and at the same time, had passed through a lot of challenges and prospects. Thus, the period 1975-2000 witnessed great strides in the history of Christianity in the Anglican Diocese of Warri, particularly in the area of evangelism. These developments were in the area of the increased tempo with which the Anglican Adam Preaching Society (A.A.P.S.) was re-doubling her efforts in her evangelization campaigns as well as increased population of the organization. There was also the splitting into more groups within her fold and appointment of leaders to run the affairs of the newly created groups. There was, also, an upsurge in church membership within the church fold, which culminated in the growth of church congregations, stations, _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 3The Anglican Church in Benin Diocese under Rt. Rev. Agori-Iwe continued to grow throughout the second half of the 1960s and until 1977 when the Bishop retired. In 1966, there were twenty five confirmation services and a total of 1,639 persons were confirmed. Between 1967 and 1968, confirmation services were held at 24 different centres, in which a total of 1,868 persons were confirmed. A new dimension was added to the organization of the Church, through the induction of Diocese Lay Readers. This new set of Lay Readers were to be chosen from among the educated, experienced, and very matured communicant members, who were to be given work to do in the pastoral and teaching ministry of the Church. The number of persons to be baptized and confirmed in the Diocese increased from year to year, especially as a result of the work of lay Evangelists like Cornelius Adam Igbudu in Isoko, Samuel Akita Asaboro in Urhobo and Paul Umale in Benin, who are all leaders of the Anglican Adam preaching Society (A.A.P.S.) whom the Bishop supported and encouraged. S.U. Erivwo, The Life and Work of Agori-Iwe first Bishop of Benin Diocese (Anglican Communion) Benin: Uniben Press, pp 90-91.As we reported last year, the confirmation services were not held in 1975, we took all the confirmation services and a total of 3271 persons were confirmed in the Diocese. Afenmai Archdeaconry 284, Asaba Archdeaconry 902, Benin Archdeaconry 375, St. Matthew’s Cathedral 61, Ishan Archdeaconry 210, Isoko Archdeaconry 96, Urhobo Archdeaconry 550. Ibid p. 2001 2 District Church Councils, Archdeaconries and indeed, creation of more Dioceses within the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion4. The great strides could equally be noticed in the area of increase in the number of lay Readers, Lay representation in Church Conferences, Boards and Committees, awareness of members about their roles and responsibilities, as well as their commitment in church activities and administration5. These strides, to a very large extent, positively affected the history of Christianity in the Niger Delta region, particularly the Diocese of Warri, Anglican Communion. Within the period under review therefore, the Anglican Church in the Benin Diocese was ripe to give birth to two new Dioceses of Warri and Asaba6. This eventually resulted in the selection and election of new Bishops which are always occasions for joy and happy celebrations; but in the case of Warri Diocese, this culminated in a crisis situation. This crisis rocked the entire fabric of the church to its very ancient foundations, and exposed both the church and her leadership to both local and international ridicule. It equally exposed the hidden agenda of a section of the church as well and revealed the churches hierarchy as being worthwhile in upholding the principles of equity, justice and fair-play in the management of human beings and institution. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 4 Statistical Reports: Number of Church stations 549, number of trained Catechists 43, number of Church agents 203, number of clergymen 80, number of communicants 20,882, number of Baptized adults 18,042, number of Baptized Children 15,010. Total 60,044. Ibid p. 199. 5 We have been receiving many applications from well-meaning and devoted Christians from all over the Diocese to be made Lay Readers. This is a very good sign. Ibid p.210. 6 Future of Benin Diocese: During the last Synod we reported that applications have come from Warri and Asaba areas praying the Synod to approve and pass a resolution and recommended same through His Grace, the Archbishop of the Province of West Africa for approval. The Church of the Province of West Africa has approved the creation of the separate Dioceses of Warri and Asaba out of the present Benin Diocese, and has passed this on to the standing committee of the province for implementation. Ibid. p. 215 3 1.1 Statement of Problem The problems created as a result of the selection, election and rejection of a non-native bishop are what this research is investigating. The crisis, which centred on an ecclesial matter, assumed political, economic, tribal and personality clash dimensions, thus badly denting the image of the church. In religious parlance, one would have thought that the reverse should be the case, but this was not in the case under review. The creation of more Dioceses from the old Benin Diocese, and the modality for the selection and election of Bishops for the created new Dioceses, brought about a conflict in the Anglican Church of the then province of West Africa. This episode snowballed into exposing other deep rooted conflicts. This was so because, while the Episcopal Synod of the then province of West Africa selected and elected indigenes of other Dioceses as their Bishops, they selected and elected a non-indigene for Warri Diocese, which ignited the fire of conflict that befell the Diocese7. Before this time, there had been quiet agitations among the people about cases of tribalism, nepotism, victimization, favouritism, injustice, lack of equity and fair-play, language barriers, personality clashes, ethnic domination and authoritarian tendencies on the part of the church authorities and her officials. The crisis therefore brought these issues to the surface and dealt serious blows to the physical, spiritual, social and moral life of the church. All these are highlighted in the body of this work. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 Diocese of Lagos: Rt. Rev.F.O. Segun – Yoruba; Diocese of Niger: Rt Rev. J.A. Onyemelukwe – Igbo; Niger Delta Diocese: Rt. Rev. Y.A. Fubara-Kalabari Stock: Diocese of Ibadan: Rt. Rev. T.O. Olufosoye – Yoruba of Kabba; Diocese of Owerri: Rt. Rev. B.C. Nwakiti-Igbo; Diocese of Benin: Rt. Rev.J.W.I. Idahosa – Benin; Diocese of Ekiti: Rt Rev. J.A. Adetiloye-Yoruba; Diocese of Enugu: Rt Rev. G.N. Otubelu – Igbo; Diocese of Abba: Rt. Rev H.A.I. Afonya-Igbo; Diocese of Kwara: Rt Rev. H. Haruna- kwara: Diocese of Ilesha: Rt Rev. J.A.I. Falope-Yoruba; Diocese of Asaba: Rt Rev. R.N.C. Nwosu-Igbo. S.U. Erivwo, Warri Diocese Crisis (ed) Ilorin: Unilorin Press, p. 73 One of the parties led delegations to Lambeth, Sierra Leone, Kenya and circulated their write-ups to all primates of the Anglican Communion to intimate and solicit support of foreign Anglican dignitaries. There have been reported cases of conflicts among the Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw which are the major ethnic groups in Warri. The crisis generated great problems in the Anglican Diocese of Warri, and in the entire province of West Africa, and indeed brought Warri Diocese to the attention of the Anglican World. 4 1.2 Purpose of the Study This study on the crisis in the Warri Diocese Anglican Communion, 1975-1980, is a critical assessment of the crisis that broke out in Warri Diocese between 1975-1980. With problems already identified, this research therefore aims at examining, analyzing and investigating the nature, causes and attempts initiated at resolving the conflict with a view to determining its implications for the church. The issues involved in this crisis have not been critically examined by scholars. Its completion will be a major contribution to the Anglican historiography. The research definitely creates an awareness among the church, community, political as well as leaders at various levels, about the need to apply and imbibe the principles and practice of conflict management in tackling the myriads of problems that confront them day by day.