Five Most Influential Bishops In The South East

The church is one of the bodies, aside from pressure groups or nongovernmental organizations (NGOS), that keeps the government in check and helps to make sure that the society remains a very comfortable place for all and sundry.

How do they achieve this? Most of the leaders of churches and Christians have attained a height in which they are held in high regard and can be able to impact a little influence on the actions of the governing bodies either by what they say or write.

Through this way, the church, through its leaders, in this case, Bishops, have been able to influence the government or society in so many ways that are beneficial to the citizenry.

Below are some of the most Influential Bishops In The South-Eastern part of Nigeria:

Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma (Archbishop Enugu Anglican Province)

A trained teacher, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma has been a charismatic teacher and priest for many years and has been influencing lives ever since he became a Preacher under the umbrella of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican communion. He has been the Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese since 2014.

With his magnanimous deeds in the Diocese and beyond, Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma is a man who is loved by many.

Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma is one of the few Bishops that is decorated with the title of Officer of The Order of The Niger (OON). This is because his influence doesn’t only end up in his religious cycle, he has also been influential in the political sphere as he tries his possible best to hold leaders accountable and contribute to national development. He has severally dared political leaders, especially the President, whenever they are not doing well.

Recently, he labeled the current government a failure and suggested the retirement of top military leaders and then the possible resignation of the President should things continue the way they are.

He also told IPOB that there sit-at-home is meaningless.

In the area of philanthropy, Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma is one of the leading clergies in the area of philanthropy. His philanthropic works include taking care of widows within and outside Enugu State, giving scholarships to orphans, and lots more.

Most Rev. Calistus Onaga (Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese)

Currently the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, he is serving as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese and was appointed Bishop of Enugu Diocese on the 9th of February, 2009.

As clergy of high ranking in the Catholic church, he is seen as a figure by most Christians and they look up to him for direction and he has been influencing lives all over the state and beyond.

Read this – Five Influential Catholic priests in the Southeast

He has been using his prestige to govern the church and also be a leader to people outside to the best of his knowledge.

The most recent of his authority that he exerted was when he directed the popular spiritual leader of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka to shut down his ministry for a month and go on a prayer retreat after an incident that saw supporters of Rev. Fr. Mbaka desecrate the Diocesan house.

He has also been using his position to help the needy and speak out for the oppressed as well as seeking ways to move his people forward.

He recently appealed to the enforcers of the sit-at-home order in the South East and agitators to call off the exercise and seek more practical ways that won’t hurt the people of the South East.

Most Rev. Augustine Tochukwu Ukwuoma (Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese)

Most Rev. A.T Ukwuoma became the Bishop of Orlu Diocese on the 25th day of March 2008 and was later ordained as the Bishop at the Holy Trinity Cathedral which is at Orlu.

Ever since then, Most Rev. A.T Ukwuoma has been constantly advocating for the citizenry and the less privileged and his influence has been waxing strong. He serves as the secretary of Catholic Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province.

Recently, he urged citizens to defend themselves against killer herdsmen that were ravaging the east then.
It is with this that he is being held in high esteem by many people across Igboland.

Most Rev. Valerian Okeke (Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese)

Most Rev. Valerian Okeke serves as Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese as well as the metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province i.e he heads the Bishops in the province.

He has been doing his ministerial work as well as philanthropic works. One of his charity works that perhaps stood out the most was building a house for a physically challenged girl in 2020 and going ahead to sponsor her education.

In the social sector, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke serves humanity by also trying to censor political office holders and trying to hold them accountable.

Bishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim (Anglican Bishop of Awka and Archbishop of the Niger)

Bishop Ibezim became bishop of Awka in 2010 which was just 16 years after his ordination. In 2019, he was elected an archbishop of the Niger which means all the dioceses in Anambra State are under his episcopal guidance.

His influence is got from the fact that Anglicanism is arguably the strongest in Anambra State. As the most known Anglican clergyman, he is seen to speak for the more than one million Anglicans in the State.

His influence is also strong in politics. A champion of Igbo presidency, he is not afraid to call politicians out nor would he let political correctness stop him from calling out the Fulani agenda in the country.

In July, after Prof. Charles Soludo, a Catholic approached the Anglican communion for a running mate, Ibezim gave him Ibezim. Yes, Bishop Ibezim nominated his brother to be Soludo’s running mate.

Most Rev. Christopher Edeh (Methodist Archbishop of Enugu province)

The Methodist Archbishop of Enugu province has been an advocate for the masses against the menace of the Fulani herdsmen in the South East since 2006.

He has not looked back and has the support of the masses. He has also been an advocate against the “Osu” caste system in Igboland.

Connect with us on LinkedIn