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The Fourth Global Anglican Future Conference and the Kigali Commitment

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By Dolapo Aina

The fourth Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) held between Monday, 17th and Friday, 21st of April 2023, bringing together circa one thousand three hundred and two delegates from fifty-two countries, including three hundred and fifteen bishops, four hundred and fifty-six other clergy and five hundred and thirty-one laity.

On the opening day, the conference delegates were addressed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente who spoke of the significance of the conference.

The conference theme for 2023 ‘To Whom Shall We Go?’ (John 6:68), along with the Bible studies in the Letter to the Colossians, focused the delegates’ attention on Jesus Christ.

GAFCON’s Chairman in his opening address encouraged delegates to be a repenting church, a reconciling church, a reproducing church and a relentlessly compassionate church. The delegates were also reminded that the purpose and mission of the church is to make known to a lost world the glorious riches of the Gospel by proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, and living faithfully together as his disciples.

In an official statement, GAFCON stated that; “Many among us are from contexts of persecution or conflict and we know that as one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. Some were unable to attend the conference because of this. We prayed for our brothers and sisters in Sudan, and for the suffering church. We also heard testimony of the power of the Gospel to transform lives even in these circumstances through the prayer, kindness and compassion of Christians.”

The fourth GAFCON conference statement titled: The Kigali Commitment 2023 focused on eight separate topics, including the current crisis in the Anglican Communion, the failure of the Archbishop of Canterbury and resetting the Communion, just to name a few.

According to Right Reverend Dr Michael Stead, Bishop of South Sydney and Chair of the GAFCON Statement Committee; “The Kigali Commitment reflects the mind of the one thousand three hundred delegates at this conference. They in turn represent most of the world’s worshipping Anglicans (estimated to be around 85%). What is clear from this conference is that most of the world’s Anglicans have lost confidence in the Archbishop of Canterbury to provide a Godly way forward that will be acceptable to those who are committed to the truthfulness, clarity, sufficiency and authority of Scripture. This grieves us, but it is they who have walked away from us.”

The Gafcon statement revealed that; “Gafcon stands ready to welcome those who feel they can no longer remain in the Church of England because of the failure of its leadership and is actively looking for ways to stand with and support faithful Anglicans who choose to remain within the Church of England. This includes churches in England, but also extends to churches all around the world where similar failures in leadership exist.”

The Kigali Commitment reads, ‘The purpose and mission of the church is to make known to a lost world the glorious riches of the gospel by proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, and living faithfully together as his disciples. The gospel of the risen Lord Jesus is our priority, and we are excited to get on with the task of proclaiming Christ faithfully to the nations,” says Bishop Stead.”

The media conference which wrapped up the fourth Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) had as guests; Bishop Michael Stead, Conference Statement Committee Chair and Bishop of South Sydney in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney; Archbishop Ben Kwashi, General Secretary of GAFCON Global and Archbishop in the Anglican Church of Nigeria; Archbishop Foley Beach, Chairman of GAFCON Global and Primate of the Anglican Church of North America and Reverend Canon Daniel Willis, GAFCON Global Operations Manager.

Aina writes from Kigali, Rwanda

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National Day Schools Competition: Aijay Media Celebrates Nigeria’s Rich Heritage

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The Aijay Media Annual National Day Schools Competition, held every October 1st, is set to hold this Tuesday.

The event, as always, is programmed to showcase the best of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, and traditions as well as celebrate the country’s national day, with varieties of competitions, which have grown in popularity over the years, attracting participation from schools all over Lagos State.

This year’s competition revolves around the “Theme: Nigeria Will be Great If …”, with different schools competing in various categories such as traditional dance, poetry, drama, and music. Students are to display their talents, creativity, and prowess in interpreting the theme.

The CEO of Aijay Media, Mrs. Ijeoma Oka, said that the competition is an opportunity for students to showcase their talents, celebrate their cultural identity and proffer their own solutions to the anomalies in our country.

The Competition is also an opportunity for schools to win prizes, including educational materials. This Last year’s competition saw many schools taking home prizes, with Tenderhands Montessori School, Lagos emerging as the overall winner.

Mrs. Abiola-Seriki Ayeni was the Special guest of honour at the previous year’s competition. Speaking at the event, she commended Aijay Media for organizing the competition and called on well-meaning Nigerians, government, and companies to support this vision. She also urged Nigerian youths to embrace their cultural heritage, promote national unity, and work harder.

Given the success this competition is expected to attract, it is expected that more schools and organizations will participate in the future.

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NLC, TUC Declare Indefinite Strike

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The organised labour unions, comprising the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have declared an indefinite strike effective from October 3, 2023.

TUC President, Festus Osifo declared the strike at a joint press conference also attended by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ajaero, who spoke first, carpeted the Federal Government over what he described as lackadaisical stance to address demands raised by the unions since the subsidy removal policy took effect.

He accused the government of deliberate refusal to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue within the ambits of good faith during the 21 days ultimatum and the subsequent successful 2-day nationwide warning strike on the 5th and 6th of September 2023.

According to the NLC President, the National Executive Councils (NEC) of the NLC and TUC in their various meetings deeply analyzed the current situation in the country, taking into cognisance the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting the citizens across all states of the federation.

He said both NECs unanimously condemned the government’s apparent conscious lethargy and tardiness in handling the consequences of its petrol price hike on Nigerians.

Ajaero also noted that the NLC and the TUC NEC-in-session observed that there is no disagreement between Labour and Government on the existence of massive suffering, impoverishment and hunger in the country as a result of the hike in the price of Petrol which demands an urgent need for remedial action.

He said the government totally abdicated its responsibility and had shown gross unwillingness to act, thereby abandoning Nigerian people and workers to excruciating poverty and affliction.

He went on to accuse the federal government of continuous grandstanding and forestalling all avenues to peaceful dialogue with organized labour on ways to save Nigerians from the huge hunger and suffering experienced across the nation.

“As a result of the unconscionable hike in the price of Petrol (PMS) by the Government, the Government has continued to demonstrate not just an unwillingness to mitigate the massive hardship in the country but also a complete lack of intention to take positive steps and empathy for the multi-dimensionally impoverished citizens of Nigeria.

“The federal Government has therefore not met in any substantial way, the demands of Nigerian workers and peoples as previously canvassed in our mutually agreed roadmap to salvaging the economy and protecting workers and Nigerians from the monumental hardship.

“The grace period given by the two labour centres has expired but trade unions continue to face severe threat from the State via the brutal and suppressive power of the Police and Government.

“The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) continues to be illegally occupied by the Government via the instrumentality of the police who have cloned the leadership of NURTW.

“The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) continues to be illegally occupied by the Lagos State government in total disregard to the Courts and the statutes.

“That the State has continued to blackmail and sponsor serious campaigns of calumny against trade union leaders in the social media using its buying and coercive powers instead of making efforts to lift the burden on the masses,” the NLC President stated.

When Osifo got hold of the microphone, he said, consequently, the NLC and TUC NEC-in-Session resolved as follows: “to, in the spirit of the Independence Day celebration and to demonstrate our resolve for a truly independent Nigeria to take our destinies in our own hands and rescue our nation

“To embark on an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation beginning on zero hours Tuesday, the 3rd day of October, 2023. To direct all workers in Nigeria to withdraw their services from their respective workplaces commencing from the 3rd of October.

“To direct all affiliates and state councils to immediately start mobilizing accordingly for action to organize street protests and rallies until Government responds positively to our demands.

“We enjoin all patriotic Nigerians to join hands across the nation to assist this government put the people back at the centre of its policies and programmes.”

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Nigerians Will Be Shocked If Chicago Varsity Releases Tinubu’s Academic Records – Obaseki

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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and member of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in the last election, Dr Don Pedro Obaseki, has said Nigerians will be shocked if the Chicago State University (CSU) releases the academic records of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Obaseki who was the Director of Research and Documentation of PDP – PCC in the 2023 election explained that Atiku is seeking an open disclosure of Tinubu’s CSU documents because it is believed that the Supreme Court of Nigeria may be compelled to listen to fresh evidence in the petitions already submitted to it.

Speaking during a zoom conference hosted by Prof. Gold Emmanuel, a psychologist based in London, on Monday, Obaseki said it was because of the nature of the issue and the need for Nigerians to know that the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is insisting on the full disclosure of President Tinubu’s academic records by the Chicago State University.

He said even though President Tinubu has said the public disclosure of his CSU documents would cause irreparable damage to him, “Nigerians would even be more shocked to know more about the certificate in question.”

He said, “Even when the court of first instance and the appellate court have convicted someone to death minutes before the Supreme Court gives its final judgement and there arose fresh and compelling facts and evidence, the apex court is bound to listen to the fresh facts before making its final judgement.

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