The ancient town of Ogoja, North of Cross River State, www.calitown.com can report is presently upbeat as the town awaits the episcopal ordination and installation of His Lordship, Most Rev,. Dr. Donatus Edet Akpan as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, later this morning.
Our correspondent on the ground who arrived Ogoja late Thursday evening reports that all hotels in Ogoja are fully booked and a town that normally sleeps early is still a beehive of activities as Catholic faithfuls in the area, invited guests, family and friends of the bishop are working round the clock to ensure that this historic occasion is successful. Already, several bishops are in Ogoja as well as a large contingent of priests and religious from within and outside the country.
Senior Special Adviser, Branding and Communication to Cross River State governor, Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe, commenting on the historic occasion, told www.calitown.com that “… as a soldier of the Lord and Knight of the Old Order of the St. John, I feel very privileged and highly honoured to be part of history. You know as a young mass servant I served mass with Archbishop Ukpo and as a young Man I was at Bishop John Ayah’s installation and today I am lucky to be a proud Catholic witness of the ordination of most Rev Dr Donatus Edet Akpan as Bishop of Ogoja. I am so happy for him and there is joy in the land … it wouldn’t have come at a better time than this. I join the Gov. Ben Ayade and the good people of Cross River State to congratulate Bishop Donatus Edet Akpan and welcome him home to Ogoja.”
Akpan, born on August 7, 1952 in Ikot Ada Utor, Essien Udim Local Govt Area of Akwa Ibom State until his appointment as bishop by Pope Francis, was the parish priest of Holy Rosary Church, Wuse, Abuja Archdiocese. He studied Philosophy and Theology at Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu and was ordained a priest on October 12, 1985 at St Anne’s Cathedral Ifuho, Ikot Ekpene by Most Rev Fitzgibon of Port Harcourt Diocese at the instance of His Eminence, Dominic Cardinal Ekandem. Besides having been Parish Priest in several parishes in the Archdiocese of Abuja, he was also Rector of the SS Simon and Jude Seminary, Kuje, Abuja.
The ceremony which will hold at the St. Thomas’ College field, Mission Road, Ogoja from 10 am, will be preceded by a concelebrated high mass.
