The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Lagos Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Dr. Oliver Aba have expressed their condolences on the death a former prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria and former president of CAN, Sunday Kofi-Mbang who died at the age of 86.
His passing was announced yesterday in a statement in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, by the secretary of the church conference, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Taiwo.
According to Taiwo, the former CAN president died on Tuesday, May 16.
The church condoled with the family of the deceased, who hailed from Idua, in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State, and people of the state over the irreparable loss.
“With gratitude to the Almighty God for benevolence and providence, we announce the transition to glory of His Pre-Eminence Emeritus and His Eminence Emeritus, Dr Mbang.
“He was Emeritus President of World Methodist Council, Christian Association of Nigeria, Incorporated Trustees of Methodist Church Nigeria and Nigeria inter-religious council. He joined the church triumphant on May 16, 2023, after an impactful earthly ministry of 44 years, having enrolled at Trinity College, Umuahia in 1962.
“He was aged 86 years. His Eminence, Dr. Mbang, embodied the pioneering and path finding spirit of Nigerian Methodism as he scored many firsts as follows: “First Patriarch’s chaplain and Bishop of Tinubu (only person to be both patriarch and prelate), Longest serving head of the Methodist Church Nigeria, first black president of World Methodist Council, and first Methodist leader to be president of Christian Association of Nigeria.
“He will surely and sorely be missed by his beloved church, Methodist Church, to which he gave spiritual, intellectual and servant-leadership for more than two decades, and the entire body of Christ in Nigeria and the diaspora.
“He also had the unique and special privilege of being accorded the status of spiritual father of Akwa Ibom State.
“On behalf of His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Aba, Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, the people called Methodists in Nigeria and the Diaspora, we condole with the family and the good people of Akwa Ibom State on this irreparable loss. Burial arrangements shall be announced later,” the church said.
In his condolence message, Emmanuel described Mbang as a “renowned father of faith” adding that his death “is deeply painful.”
“You were a towering figure in the Nigerian Christian community, who, as the Patriarch/Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, for 22 uninterrupted years, the President of CAN and the first Nigerian ever to head the World Methodist Council, WMC, brought honour to Nigeria and in the process won souls for Christ.
“One of your most endearing attributes was that you spoke truth to power, and was a champion for good governance, equity and justice.
“I thank you most profoundly for the support and prayers you extended to me since I came into public service and most especially, the last almost eight years as the governor of this state.
“Nigeria will miss you, the Christian community will miss you, and our dear people will miss you deeply. But we thank God for the life of impact you lived. May your soul rest in peace,” the governor said in a message by his spokesman, Mr. Ekerete Udo.
Similarly, the Lagos chapter of CAN described the deceased as a “wonderful and peaceful man whose wealth of crisis resolution expertise was unrivalled.”
The chapter chairman, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, told the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview that it was during Mbang’s tenure as the leader of the Methodist Church that the 30-year-old crisis of the Church was resolved.
“His tenure steered development in every area of the church that he became the leader of church beyond Nigeria to the whole of the African continent.
“His peaceful disposition earned him a lot of accolades and followership among his peers and others.
“He was deep in the scripture, such that he preached with ease in the Hebrew language and in the Old Testament.
“He was close to God that his prayers were fervent and impactful on the faithful.
“His good works and spiritual approach to the well-being of faithful made his reign as the leader of the church to be elongated to 22 years; a feat nobody before him and I doubt after him, there will be a person that can attain it. “His period as CAN president was eventful and result oriented as he used his position to fight the military to a standstill; that compelled them to return power to the people in 1999,” he said.
