Sunday Mbang, Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, is dead. He was 86 years old.
The late Prelate who was also the first black president of the World Methodist Council, died in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Tuesday, May 16.
Mbang, the first President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of Methodist Church extraction, died in his sleep after a brief illness, according to a statement by Babatunde Taiwo, the secretary of the Methodist Conference,
Taiwo said the Prelate “died after an impactful earthly ministry of 44 years having enrolled at the Trinity College, Umuahia, Abia State in 1962.” He disclosed that the late Mbang was the only person to be both a patriarch and prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria.
The secretary of the Methodist Conference said Mbang “will be sorely missed by his beloved church, Methodist Church to which he gave his spiritual, intellectual and servant-leadership for more than two decades.”
According to him, Mbang had the unique and special privilege of being “accorded the status of ‘Spiritual Father of Akwa Ibom State.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his close friend and close confidant, was among close allies, who received last prayers and blessings from the revered cleric about two weeks ago, before his passing on Tuesday.
“The late Prelate Emeritus, has not been out for any public function of late, but preferred to receive some important visitors including his best friend, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was one of his few close associates that visited him two weeks ago for prayers and blessings,” a family member, who preferred anonymity told newsmen