The Founder, Spiritual Leader and Supreme Head of Dominion Zion Ministry (Fia Fia Zone) in Oporoza Community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Archbishop Amb. Dr. Philip Tonfawei (JP), was consecrated as an Archbishop by the Most Rt. Rev. Dr. M. B. Abeh (JP) of St. Michael Church of Christ C&S Zion, Ikare Akoko, Ondo State, in conjunction with the World's Bishops Council, West Africa on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

A popular media in its report of the consecration ceremony had tagged the Archbishop Amb. Dr. Philip Tonfawei (JP) as the first Archbishop in Gbaramatu Kingdom.

However, an objection to that title in a publication made by PENGlobal was observed particularly from one Facebook user named Abraham Sobai. In a bid to unravel the fact, PENGlobal embarked on a recent finding and came out with the following:

The Archbishop Irawo Joseph, a native of Okerenkoko Federated Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, and Founder/General Overseer of Zion Land of Canaan Ministry International (Land of Milk and Honey) was consecrated as an Archbishop by the Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa, Founder/General Overseer of Christ's Missionaries Crusaders Church, on Sunday, March 17, 2019.

Archbishop Irawo's church is located along the DSC Expressway, back of Karika Global Concept Filling station, Otokutu near Warri, in the Udu area of Delta State.

According to Archbishop Irawo when PENGlobal Community reached out to him on phone, he said: "I am the first Archbishop in Gbaramatu Kingdom. I was confirmed as Archbishop in March 2019, by His Grace Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa, Founder and General Overseer of Christ's Missionaries Crusaders Church.

"Normally, a king is consecrated in his own throne, in his own kingdom. I am the Founder of my ministry. Archbishop Philip himself knows that. I was there when he was consecrated on Sunday (July 7). I was there because for someone to be consecrated as an Archbishop, you need some archbishops. I prayed for him on Sunday in Oporoza," he confirmed.

When PENGlobal reached out to Archbishop Tonfawei for response, he admitted that the Archbishop Irawo was indeed from Gbaramatu, but added that while the latter's ministry operates in the upland area of the State, his (Archbishop Tonfawei) ministry operates in Gbaramatu Kingdom hence his admission as first Archbishop.

VERDICT:
By place of origin, the Archbishop Irawo is indeed the first Archbishop of Gbaramatu Kingdom having being consecrated in March 2019. On the other hand, the Archbishop Tonfawei is the first Archbishop to be consecrated on the soil of Gbaramatu Kingdom (unless there is a contrary information to that).

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