June 23, (THEWILL) – The Commissioner of Power and Chairman/CEO, Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC), Apostle Samuel Chukwunenye Nwaire, has been installed as the General Overseer of Christian Life Gospel Assembly.
Nwaire, who also served as a Special Adviser, Power and Energy to the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, was until his instalment, the Deputy General Overseer of the church.
The installation ceremony held in the serene church headquarters located at the Oke-Afa area of Isolo in Lagos on Saturday, June 22, 2024, attracted dignitaries across board, including the Governor of Imo State, Gov. Hope Uzodimma, represented by Dr. Patrick Uzoma; President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; members of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigerian (PFN), Fellowship of Frontline Apostles and Prophets (FFAPP) and members of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship (FGBMF) International.
Others are former student unionist and one-time senatorial aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Imo North Senatorial Zone, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu; representative of Igbo Ministers, Apostle (Dr) Solomon Okorie; and their Western Coordinator, Rev. Dr. Charles Idu, as well as District Coordinator of Full Business Men’s Bible Fellowship, Rev. Ayo Badejo and others.
Before Apostle Nwaire was installed as the GO, he first passed through rigorous examination and charges by Pastor Victor Samuel after which he was presented to the assembly by Pastor Paul Adiukwu as Apostle-elect. He was afterwards and finally consecrated officially into the office of an Apostle.
Shortly after the consecration, Apostle Nwaire was installed as the new General Overseer of Christian Life Gospel Assembly. The elevation, which was conducted by the Christian Life Gospel Assembly in collaboration with the Fellowship of Frontline Apostles and Prophets led by Presiding Prelate FFAP and Chairman PFN, Lagos State, Apostle Enyinnaya Emeka Okwuonu, elicited admirations from the congregation.
During the consecration, Apostle Okwuonu declared Nwaire as an Apostle, saying: “We are here to consecrate our brother officially as an Apostle. You are at this stage being consecrated. You are by this consecration qualified to carry out some sacred activities such as weddings, marriages, baptism amongst others.”
Advising the new GO, the PFN President said: “As a Minister of God, you are not the boss but a servant, leader, peacemaker, and solution provider amongst others. By this consecration, you have the cooperation of God to restore life in the Ministry.”
In his acceptance speech, the new GO thanked all the guests present, saying: “Today, I just want to say that the Book of Psalm 103:1 to 2 captures my thoughts. I want to tell you that all I can do here today is to praise and thank God for giving me the opportunity to stand here today and receive these blessings. And because I have received this ordination here today, I will only stand here also to declare blessings upon everyone today.
“I have been permitted here today to declare blessings. I want to thank God who has made it possible for me and my wife, allowing me to come and do this. I also praise God for the clement weather we have today. Before you, I want to say that we have accepted to be the servants of Christian Life Gospel Assembly. As I do that, I declare that God, who made it possible for me, will visit you all also.”
He gave special recognition to Pastor (Mrs.) Stella Ugboaja, wife of the late General Overseer and Founder of Christian Life Gospel Assembly, Rev. Isaac Ugboaja, emphasising that without the family, he wouldn’t have been where he is today.
Earlier, Father of Ministry, Bishop Abraham James, in his sermon, advised the congregation to give the new GO unalloyed support and encouragement.
In the sermon titled “The Dawning of a New Glory”, Bishop James hinged his message on “Moses is Dead, Joshua is Rising”. He said, “In the Ministry, we are to do a continuation of the work of God and not competition.”
Referring to Apostolic Nwaise, he said, “You are not here to do better than Moses but to do your best.” And to the congregation, he admonished: “Don’t ever say my former General Overseer did this and that because God is not a methodist but a strategist.”
Preaching further, Bishop James added: “If you are expecting the new GO to be 100 per cent the old GO, you will be getting it wrong. It can never be the same but it will get better. God cannot be with two General Overseers at a time. You must forget former things and you must not dwell in the past. Loyalty has changed. If you have loyalty for Moses and not for Joshua, it is wrong.”
As part of the elevation ceremony, Pastor (Mrs) Cecilia Nwaire and many others were officially ordained as pastors during the ceremony. There was also the ordination of other pastors, deacons, deaconesses, and evangelists who were expected to give massive support to the new GO.
Towards the end of the ceremony, Comrade Ajaero was called up to the altar where Apostle Okwuonu and Bishop Abraham led other pastors and the congregation to pray for him. The firebrand prayers, according to Apostle Okwuonu, were necessary because of the heavy burden of Nigerian workers that the labour leader was carrying on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, most of the church members who spoke about the new GO expressed confidence that he would do well as a church leader, judging from his antecedents.
Apostle Samuel Chukwunenye Nwaire hails from Umuduru-Ikperejere in the Ihite Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
