The Daily Crucible
Former President, Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN, 1994-2000), His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie(retired) turned 85 today. He was born in Lagos on June 16, 1936 into a royal family of Uromi, Esan North East Local Government of Edo State.
An activist and Catholic Cardinal. Okogie defended the Catholic Church's laws on celibacy for Catholic priests and had remained critical of American culture regarding priestly vocations, frowning at her uncensored permissiveness.
In Nigeria, he is a social justice crusader. He fought for the right to education of every Nigerian child and still stay committed to it.
Nigerians have not forgotten how he was literary a thorn in the flesh of the military juntas as the then CAN President, lending his voice regularly for the enthronement of democracy and stoutly defending the rights of Christians.
Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie last priestly posting was Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, 1973-2012.
The Octogenarian Christ soldier pulled out of the pastoral governance of the See of Lagos upon meeting the mandatory canonical age of 75 years, after impacting positively on many generations of Christians, catholic faithful and society.
According to Hallmarks of Labour Foundation, a specialised publication, Okogie was educated at the Holy Cross School, Lagos; St. Patrick’s School, Sapele; St. Gregory’s College, Lagos; St. Theresa’s Minor Seminary, Ibadan; Saints Peter & Paul Seminary, Ibadan; and Urban University, Rome.
Among other qualifications, he holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, the Bachelors degree in Divinity, and an honorary doctorate in Divinity.
He was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1966 and on October 21, 2003, some 37 years after his ordination as Priest, Anthony Olubunmi Okogie was proclaimed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II “ the third Nigerian Priest to be so honoured.”
As a Priest, Okogie was easily the most visible model of social conscience and practical symbol of the Church as an agent of positive change. He used his good offices optimally to promote the essence of equity, social justice and good governance.
He was unrelenting in his constructive criticism of military juntas and civil dictators alike often at great risk. His various press conferences on the State of the Nation were thoroughly-researched, incisive and pertinent to the meaningful and sustainable development of the society.
Happy Birthday To A Deserving Cardinal And Soldier Of Christ, Anthony Olubunmi Okogie At 85 !
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