I have known His Lordship Bishop Michael Eneja for a very long time now. I worked under him as his chancellor, the first chancellor of the Diocese.

My relationship with His Lordship is very close because that assignment to be a diocesan chancellor came to me as a very big surprise. At that time all the priests of the diocese including myself were clamouring, we needed a chancellor. At that time, it appeared we were lacking the focus and in a meeting, we were shouting we needed a chancellor to put things in order. The next day I saw a letter that I was to be the chancellor.

I didn’t know where to begin but I went to His Lordship who said to me, “I will pray for you” and I can say, although I was working a s a chancellor before I left for studies in Germany so he really prayed for me, he advised me as a father and he gave me chance to do that job so I felt so relaxed and I was able to do my best under that condition.

Even in the seminary when he was our spiritual director we admired him spiritually and we were struggling at least to some extent, to come close to his spirituality so that stood him aside. That placed him somewhere to admire and work towards. And then his simplicity. He took life so simple and has sincerity and sense of fair play and justice, whatever he is convinced, in Christ is his focus, his model. Everything he did was channeled towards Christ so that alone was strong enough for us to stand behind him. I really admired him.

When he was our spiritual director in the seminary, we were scared of getting close to him because his spirituality is so outstanding that we dread going close to such a holy man, Bishop Eneja for me is another Christ, and he is very sincere. He does something with all his heart and conviction even if there is a mistake; it is only a mistake of the head and not t6he heart.

Bishop Eneja believes in this priesthood of ours and in his pastoral ministry, his love and concern is very clear. You are sick, Bishop Eneja is there to see you and pray for you, the next day he is there also, so he is more than a Bishop to me. You cannot come in contact with Bishop Eneja and go without learning anything; of course he is a spiritual man.

I know indeed that God will reward Bishop Eneja. He is a living saint. I am praising that God will complete this process. We are not wishing him death now for we value and love him for his good works. Another thing, old age is a difficult time so I wish him, happy old age for some people has unhappy old age but I see his Lordship enjoying his old age.

I thank all those around him, Msgr. Anijielo and the seminarians, the drivers and every other person who takes adequate care of him. I had experience with Monsignor Emehelu. You know, the old need our care and help.

Even though Bishop Eneja is a very prayerful man, he needs our prayer to sustain him. My wish for him is a happy old age.