Ayo Fasoro

Non Sum Dignus

 

What else do you say after you have been away from home for almost three years? It has been 35 months. Yes, 154 weeks. In that time, you get homesick. If home does not miss you, you miss home.

To those whose interventions went unheeded, unreserved apologies.

The good thing is that you have time to take breath, reevaluate issues, and appreciate grace.  All things work for good. Only His will prevails.

Well, in that time, a lot of water passed under the bridge as they say. Let’s recall some of them.

At the close of August 2022, the President of my country Nigeria, and the Head of our Church, the Holy Father, shared the same birthday, Today, the two men of December 17 are no more. The Cardinal Camerlengo removed the Ring of the Fisherman from the finger of Pope Francis; and the official portrait of Muhammadu Buhari, Sai baba, has given way to another.

The first Jesuit Pope passed on, replaced by the first Augustinian Pope. An Argentinian’s papacy giving way to that of a Peruvian American. It marks the fourth straight non-Italian Pope, second non-European. The day of Africa is not too far away. God’s ways are unfathomable.

Back home, Buhari, Mai Gaskiya, surrendered to term limit in May 2023 and to death, the leveler, last month. An unlikely path to relevance for a boy who lost his father at age 4; a soldier who almost lost his job by disobeying Shehu Shagari, his Commander-in-Chief, while chasing Chadian intruders deep into Chad. He was only the second person to rule Nigeria twice. Olusegun Obasanjo returned to office twenty years after surrendering power, Buhari returned thirty years after. Buhari’s twelve million votes guaranteed his path to power, and to his being succeeded by BAT.

Still back home in Mother Church, Anslem Pendo Lawani, the Administrator was appointed Bishop of Ilorin in December 2023; not to forget the appointments of Bishops Habila Daboh (Zaria), Gerald Musa (Katsina) and the appointment of Archbishop Michael Crotty as Nuncio to Nigeria. Need we mention the eventual excommunication of an alaseju, Carlo Maria Vigano, who started well as Nuncio to Nigeria, went on to a high-flying position in Rome and on to Nuncio to the United States. He claimed, “better knowledge than the Pope” and pushed his way out of the Church to ignominious irrelevance.

Death claimed Archbishop Patrick Ekpu and Bishop Ayo-Maria Atoyebi. May they rest in the peace of Christ. Amen.

Death also separated Sister Agnes Mary Hassan OLA, (Mama Pupa) from Sister Mary Anthony Ogunkorode OLA, and from Sr. Roseline da Silva OLA.

In Ibadan, we lost Rev. Fr. (Dr) Anthony Akiwowo whose service to the Church predates his seminary days. His spirituality, his diligence, his humility, and his brilliance will be remembered forever.

We also lost Mama Doyin Ige. Auntie was raised Catholic, grew up Catholic, remained Catholic, and was a generous but quiet supporter of all that is good. And Mrs. Marcellinus Olajumoke Okunlola a longtime friend and collaborator, lost to the tyranny of our public system. Returning from the tortuous “I am Alive” exercise, she was hit by an Okada rider, resulting in her death.

Our gains outstrip our losses. We have gone from two Indigenous priests in 1969 to count beyond the century mark and still counting. Half a dozen of our priests have marked 40 years since ordination, and some of them are approaching fifty years. Our local Church is strengthened not just by increased vocations, but also by wider spread, greater progress in all areas of evangelization and deeper spirituality. All thanks to God who blesses the efforts of His flock.

Our past is glorious, our present strong, and our future promising.