Banigo Praises Ebirien As Great Apostle Of Christ

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has described Rt. Rev. Ralph Cornelius Ebirien as a great missionary and lover of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Banigo stated this during the Retirement/70th Birthday Thanksgiving Service in honour of Rt. Rev. Ralph Cornelius Ebirien, the 6th Bishop, Niger Delta Diocese at St Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The deputy governor, who said the bishop lives a very modest and humble lifestyle, stressed that he was a great apostle of Jesus Christ.
Banigo expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for the 12th day of May, 2022, which she disclosed, was the 12th year of Rt. Rev. Ralph Cornelius Ebirien’s enthronement as a bishop and the 70th birthday of his life.
“I just want to thank the Almighty God for the things He has used him to do, when he was Dean of the Diocese, he was chairman of the Sunday School Board, and I worked with him closely.That was when I started to know him for his sheer humility, his love for the work of God and how he has been able to disciple the children of God, how he has been able to send the word of God along the length and breadth of this Diocese and beyond. When he ascended to be a bishop, I knew that God has chosen a man after His heart to the diocese, and he never stopped working for the improvementof the ministry and the word of God”.
The state deputy governor said that members of the diocese would remember and miss him, adding that the retired bishop accomplished many things during his ministerial work in the diocese.
“We love you in this diocese, and we are going to miss you. You are a great apostle of the Lord and your life is all about miracle. We pray the good Lord to continue to be with you as you continue to be in His Holy reverence to His glory, amen”, she stated.
Banigo assured the retired bishop that she would relate to her principal about the accommodation he mentioned, adding that she was optimistic that the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike would attend to the request.
In his remarks, Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province, Blessing Enyindah, said the Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, Henry Ndukuba has approved the appointment of Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo as Overseer of the Niger Delta Diocese pending when a new bishop would be enthroned.
In his sermon, the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo said “one of the best things that could happen to a man is to retire when you are still alive”, stressing that “when you have worked and God keeps you alive until your retirement date, it calls for thanksgiving”.
He said Ebirien was known for his humility and patience, adding that he has learnt a lot from the lifestyle of the bishop, who was ever ready to learn, does not take anything for granted, and expressed gratitude to Almighty God that Ebirien was alive and retiring alive.
The clergy, who took his Bible reading from the books of Luke 17 and Psalms 103, advised Christians to always reciprocate God’s blessings and goodness in their lives and stop remembering only the things God didn’t do for them.
He explained that the retired bishop had cheated death, stressing that God’s grace and divine favour found him alive.
Earlier, the out-going Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ralph Cornelius Ebirien, had expressed gratitude to Almighty God for His blessings; mercy and love for making him attain the age of 70 years and to retire after 40 years of serving Lord’s vineyard out of which he served as a bishop for 12 years.
“I am happy that I am alive to retire from service, today, and also clocking 70 years, all is the grace of”, he stated.
Ebirien advised young ministry workers and pastors to be patient and have faith in the work of God, and appealing to them not to place materialism above spiritual things, even as he commended members of the diocese for their support to his family throughout his 12 years of leadership in the diocese.
The Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Owunari Georgewill read the first lesson, while Sir Simipiri Paul read the second lesson.

By: Akujobi Amadi