Pope installs new archbishop for Ibadan diocese

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday stood still for the installation of Gabriel Ojeleke Abegunrin as the new Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ibadan at the SS Peter and Paul Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan.
The installation ceremony, which had in attendance two states’ governors, Abiola Ajimobi and Kayode Fayemi of Oyo and Ekiti States, many traditional rulers, Iyiola Omisore and Catholic priests from across the country and outside, was performed by the Apostolic Nuncio, Augustine Kasujja, the representative of Pope Francis in Nigeria.
In his speech, Kasujja recalled that the Pope had expressed the conviction that the new archbishop, endowed with the necessary qualities and highly experienced in pastoral matters, was worthy to take over the care of the Metropolitan Archdiocese after the resignation of Felix Alaba Job.
The Pope, he said, enjoined all the Catholic faithful in Ibadan to remain joyfully united with their new pastor, charging the new Archbishop: “With efforts of cooperation and constructive dialogue at all levels, in this era of new evangelization, with your assiduous pastoral care, the light of faith will surely continue to shine even brighter in Ibadan”.
Delivering further the message of the Pope, he said: “We Bishops should understand that consecrated people are not (just) material, but are gifts that enrich the diocese.”
In the homily delivered by the retired Archbishop of Ekiti Diocese, Michael Fagun, he charged the new archbishop to be creative in evangelism and be a model to the church, stressing that the seat of archBishop is not for frivolity.
“Maintain your simplicity, guide your relationship with politicians and money bags, maintain decency not opulence, don’t be a career priest, which is noted for self glory and worldly gains,” Fagun said.
The predecessor of Abegunrin, Alaba Job, who retired after 43 years in the Vineyard of God, in his opening remark recalled that even though he took over with just two diocesan priests, he left the same diocese with 87, apart from five who had gone before him.
Job disclosed that the Ibadan Archdiocese pioneered many things for the Church in Nigeria, including the formation of Catholic Women Organization and the Laity Council.
He charged the members of the Ibadan Archdiocese to open their hearts to his successor, support him as he was supported, work with him as their leader and father and together build for God a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
The new Archbishop, who thanked the congregation for their love and support, admonished them not to waiver in their commitment to the things of the Lord and expressed the confidence that in the years ahead, they would show the same solidarity by working with him to continue to build up the kingdom of God in this Archdiocese and in the province.