History: As Bishop Ishaya Audu Received Pallium As Archbishop Of Jos

By Moses GbandeThursday, the 25th day of April, 2021 will remain indelible and a memorable day in history of Jos, the plateau state capital, as Cattholic Bishops, Priests, the laity and other faiths, within the country and beyond thronged in their thousands to witness the pallium, installation, and first anniversary ceremony of the the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Jos, Most Rev. Dr. Mathew Ishaya Audu.The pallium which was held at the Divine Mercy Cathedral, Lamingo, Jos concided with the 20th episcopical ordination and one year anniversary of the metrolitan Archbishop.Conducted by Pope Francis, the event was historic, because the pallium having the metrolitan jurisdiction as his symbol of participation in papal, Bishop Ishaya Audu is by this, strengthened to oversee the activities of the provincial Archdiocese of Jos, comprising Maiduguri, Yola, Bauchi, Shendam and the Pankshin.His Holiness, Pope Francis used the event to speak extensively on the need to end insecurity in Nigeria, and changes humanity to shun worldly materialism, but should remain firm and constantly pray for the sustainable peace in the society. He eqaully used the occasion to charge the Catholic priests and other faithfuls across the world to Dedicate themselves to the service of God, and preech peace and unity of the society as enshrined in the holy scripture.The Governor of the state, and chairman northern governors forum, Barr Simon Bako Lalong, the chairman traditional coumcil of chiefs, plateau state, Da. Jacob Gyang Buba, were the host dignitaries that pledge to support activities of the church to thrive.Lalong on his part, was optimistic that, Bishop Ishaya Audu will Excel beyond human imagination, pointing that, his achievements within the last one year has demonstrated that his calling is Divine. “The Archbishop in the last one year has not only work for the unity of the body of Christ but has helped in the peace process, through dialogue and reconciliation for the diverse ethnic groups in the state”.In the meantime, the Nigerian Gateway Newspaper interacts with some of the classmates of the Archbishop Ishaya Audu, on their expectations of their colleague in God’s vinyard and hear why they said.Excerpts:Q. Can we meet you sir?A. My Name is Sir Joseph Ari, the Director General, Industrial Training fund.Q. We understand that you were the class mate of the the current Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Dr. Ishaya Audu. Can you tell us about his personality?A. First of all, I am highly excited today, as a matter of fact, having one of my classmates elevated to this exalted position of the Archbishop of Jos, comprising, Jos, Shenday, Pankshin, Yobe, Yola, Jalingo and Maiduguri. It is a thing of Joy for me, and I am not surprised, knowing fully the personality of Mathew Ishaya Audu, a gentleman fill of wisdom, right from the seminary days. He was a personality raised full with the wisdom of God. I know that the sky will be his limit in his chosen discipline. As you know, the priesthood is a special calling, you know, it is said that, many are called but few are chosen, and he is one of those that have has been chosen by God and so many others chosen to be priests and I am proud am in their mist now and I feel very happy because even though I have not been called or chosuto be a priest, those values in the seminary have remained with me, and there is no way you will be a priest without understanding the value of humanity, because a priest has to be a scholar, a gentleman and thrive to be a saint. An the values are very Central to human personality. And the values from the seminary days are the values that have been controlling my life daily. And so, today is a joyous occasion, not just for me and my classmates but the entire Bishoptly of the Jos Archdiocese an because for us we have the true Shephard, who is Mathew Ishaya Audu. A Shephard who is down to the core, very blunt, very straight forward and one that I know will lead the flock in the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos to the desired destination of salvation.Q. So what are your expectations?A. Well, you will recall that before the pallium itself today, he has been here for a year now, and you already seen what a Hausa man could best discribed as the steps of a beautiful dance of Friday begins from Wednesday. So far, this period of one year, we have seen him how’s for his pastoral visitation and we have seen his preechment during the visitation. Example, I was privileged to be with him in the last Sunday during the celebration of Divine Mercy, and I heard all his preechment on the need for us to discard materialism and embrace that which is heavenly vision. And my expectation is that he has come in to the shoes of the Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama and just realized that the shoes fit him and therefore, my expectations are that the Archdiocese will continue to grow in lips and bounds under him and the people will have the Sense if belonging and will draw closer to God. And he has came at a very critical time in nation’s history where religion relighted to the background. A time where security is left in the hands of God. This is a period where people will need to go close to God. So he has a very tall and heculian tasks but it is a task I know that he is capable of doing. So my expectations are that he will bring Men and women closer to Christ, an he will bring people back to the redemption spirit of Jesus Christ and I have no doubt in my mind to he will Excel as a Bishop and as a Shephard.On his part, Rev. Fr. Prof. Pius Ajiki, of Benue State University, also his classmate, who has joined other well wishers the celebrate witj Bishop Mathew Ishaya Audu, saying, ” I have been a permanent Secretariat for 38 years since we graduated from the seminary, so I am happy to be here with my members, we are 21 in number,; 13 priests, two bishops and others are Lay people and Sir Joseph Ari is one of them and we are here to celebrate with the Archbishop and we thank God for giving him an opportunity to serve God in the capacity of the Archbishop of Jos metropolitan city.The Bishop however told Journalists in an interview that the elevation will spour him to do more and called on his colleagues, priests, laity and everyone to cooperate and support with him so that together they could conquer peace in the society.