By Nsan Ndoma-Neji
The Methodist Church Nigeria has elevated Rt. Reverend. Dr. Otuekong Ukut Esq., to the position of Archbishop of Calabar, with the mandate to superintend over all Methodist dioceses in Cross River.
The elevation followed a major restructuring of the church in the state. Under the new arrangement, the former Diocese of Atamunu has been renamed the Diocese of Calabar Central and a new Diocese of Calabar North has been created, bringing the total number of dioceses in the state to four.
The four dioceses are the Diocese of Calabar at Edgerton which is the mother and main diocese, the Diocese of Calabar Central covering the university community, the Diocese of Calabar North covering Odukpani and Biase, and the Diocese of Ikom covering Obudu and Obanliku.
Speaking on his elevation, Archbishop Otuekong said, “I have now been made the Archbishop of the Calabar Diocese. That is the Bishop of the Calabar Diocese. And then the Archbishop of the whole of Calabar. You can say the whole of Cross River State. So all the four dioceses, I superintend over.”
He described his seat at Edgerton as historic, noting that it is the first diocese established in the Methodist Church in Nigeria. “That Edgerton is the first diocese in Nigeria, inaugurated on January 28, 1976. It seniors every other diocese in the country,” he said.
On his mandate, the Archbishop said he will work closely with the Bishops of Calabar Central, Calabar North and Ikom to foster unity, aggressive evangelism, church planting, discipleship and strengthening of existing congregations.
On the issue of addressing the challenges of the higher office, he declared, “God first, after all He appoints, then He qualifies. There are so many obstacles, but I’m not afraid. Because when you are with God, with the Holy Spirit, He fights for you.”
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