By Elijah Ugani
The Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, the Most Rev Donatus Edet Akpan has tasked the wearing communities of Ochon and Alesi to lay down theirs arms and embrace peace as there cannot be meaningful development without peace.
The Bishop made the call on Friday February 6th 2026, at Ochon while delivering his sermon at the mass to mark the blessing and taking over the management of Jennifer Etuh Hospital.
Find text of the Bishop’s sermon “Today is a very special day for us in this community and its environs. God has officially visited you today and has brought you the gift of peace.
“When Jesus sent out His disciples, He instructed them: “Wherever you enter a house, say, ‘Peace be with this house.’ If a person of peace lives there, your peace will rest on him.” As I stepped into this land today, I proclaim: may the peace of Christ be with you all.
“God knows what you are lacking. He knows your needs, and He will give you what you truly need. What this community needs now is peace. And so, I plead with God to grant you peace.
“Our royal fathers are all present here today. Though I may not have the opportunity to meet each of you personally, God has asked me to speak to you. He has been watching as human lives, His own creation, has been toyed with. Like Herod, who even listened to a woman demanding a human head, God says He is tired of bloodshed.
“He gave you this land so that you may cultivate it, eat from it, and pass it on to your children and your children’s children. God is calling you to rethink.
“If your brother does wrong, go and speak with him privately. If he listens, you have won him over. If he does not, take another brother along. If he still refuses, bring the matter before the Church.
“God is using this occasion, the blessing of this health facility to speak to everyone. He wants you to rethink your ways.
“You cannot continue to toy with human life, killing and shedding blood and expect the land to prosper. When blood is spilled on the land, it becomes unproductive.
“When you keep God’s commandments, as King David did, you will live securely in your land. But when you defile the land, the sword will eventually devour you.
“This call is timely. God has been watching. He does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner. Though He remained silent amid atrocities, killing your brothers and stealing from them, today He makes a clarion call: come out of these crimes and become your brother’s keeper.
“We no longer have pagans among us. We know the Scriptures, whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and no murderer will inherit the Kingdom of God.
“When we destroy, we cannot progress. Let us give peace a chance in this community, and we will see that we will be happier.
“I thank God for the generous family who donated this land for this health facility, especially their wife, Jennifer, whose vision made this possible. It brings me great joy to see a family think beyond themselves and care for the lives of others.
“In memory of their wife and mother, they built this facility and entrusted it to the Church. You are all witnesses as it is handed over to the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, so that it may be managed for the benefit of everyone.
“This Mass marks the beginning of the operation of this facility, so that what God desires for us may come to pass.
“We pray that God bless the donors, all who come here seeking medical attention, the administrators, and everyone who will work in this place.
“I charge you all to preserve this facility. If you destroy what belongs to God, there will be no peace. Protect this gift given to this community. Since my appointment as Bishop, it has been my desire to establish a hospital in Obubra. Though I did not have the means, God heard my groaning and made this possible. Let us put our hands together so that the donors may feel fulfilled.
“May all who come here sick return home alive and healthy. Do not be like Herod, who heard of the power at work in Jesus but refused to submit to it, choosing instead the path of evil, leading to the beheading of John the Baptist.
“What Jesus asks us to do, let us strive to do it, so that His power may abide in us. And what He tells us to avoid, let us avoid, so that we may live in peace”.
On his part, the Chairman of Jennifer Etuh Foundation, Mr Thomas Etuh, represented by Mr Joseph Otu and Hon Nicholas Ahiwa, commended the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, the Most Rev Donatus Akpan, for the disposition to take over the health facility. He acknowledged the commitment of Rev Joemarcus Ogan and Rev Fr Anthony Ogah who made selfless commitment to ensure that the hospital is fully operational.
He noted that even when the hospital was already been managed by the church, more development were underway as solar panels were mounted to generate light. He assured the bishop of the Jennifer Etuh Foundation’s commitment to sustain the hospital for the benefit of the rural communities.
On his part, Hon Nicholas Ahiwa, noted that “When the late Mrs Jennifer Etuh was sick, she called her husband and told him that they are wealthy and can afford medication but that they are other people who cannot afford medication. She asked her husband to go to any rural community and build a hospital for the people.
“When this hospital was completed, we needed to hand it over to a private organisation to manage it and the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja readily comes to mind. We are very pleased with the work the church is doing in hospital management and we comfortable that intention for which this hospital was built will be fulfilled”.
In a vote of thanks, the Hospital Administrator, Rev Fr Anthony Ogah, thanked the Bishop for the support and encouragement and especially, for providing material and financial support for the Two day medical outreach which recorded 24 free surgeries.
He thanked his predecessor, Rev Fr Joemarcus Ogan, for the work he started. He acknowledged the support of all priests who left their pastoral schedules to identify with him.
Fr Anthony acknowledged the commitment of his staff and that of the Chiefs and community leaders who are always disposed to offer the needed support.
He assured that the hospital will be opened 24 hours daily “Let me appeal to those who were not attended to during the outreach. Please come, I’m here for you. This is the apostolate that God has given to me and I am willing and ready to discharge my duties. Whenever you’re here even at midnight, call Fr Tony and I will come and attend to you”.
Highlights of the event was the visiting and presenting gifts to patients by the bishop, laying of foundation stone for staff quarters and interactive session with Chiefs and leaders of Ochon community.
