THE first session of the sixth Synod of the Diocese of Ughelli, which was held in St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Owhrode, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State from April 27 to May 1 attracted over 100 delegates to the headquarters of Owhrode Archdeaconry. It was the first time the town founded in 1917 would host a Synod.

With the theme O Church, Keep The Lord’s Commandments the guest preacher, Rt. Revd. Alex C. Ibezim, Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, noted that the church is in her lowest ebb in terms of keeping the commands of the Lord, adding that the Lord’s commandments are based on love for God and our neighbours.

“No one can keep the commands except he or she is enabled by the Holy Spirit. As such I urge you all the clergy, laity, legal men and others to strive to keep the commandments.”

Also speaking, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bendel, Most Revd. Friday Imakhai, who led all the bishops of the province during the presentation of the bishop’s charge called on government to review the NYSC scheme by making it a regional programme. In his views, the proposed arrangement would make Corps members to be conversant with their region rather than what is currently obtained where Corps members are sent to the northern part of the country where some have been mercilessly killed. He rejected the proposed amnesty for the Boko Haram members and called on the Federal Government to first build the churches burnt, compensate those whose property were destroyed and pacify those whose loved ones were killed before talking of amnesty.

The Synod enjoined all Christians to be united, to pursue peace, live a holy life and be obedient to those in authority, apart from calling all Nigerians avoid infringing one another’s rights, as a way of promoting peaceful coexistence and hasten the development of the country.

The Synod also commended the Delta State government for establishing the Delta State Transport Company (DSTC), distributing tricycles to the people and renovating schools while calling on the Federal Government to give adequate attention to the Delta Steel Company Ovwian-Aladja, whose staff had not been paid their salaries for quite a long time now. Synod wants government to reactivate the plant so that it can provide employment for youths in the country.