By casca ohanele in New York, USA
Arch Bishop AJV Obinna in a heart to heart discussion with Mbaise people in New York on Sunday 3rd August 2014 for the way forward on the Ahiara Diocese Bishop quagmire, explained his role and concern on the matter. The meeting, which held after the Church service for the consecration and dedication of (Igbo Organisation Banquet Hall, ‘Obi-Igbo’) built by Igbos in America as part of the programme marking the 6th annual Imo State Congress of America Convention, had many distinguished sons and daughters of Mbaise in attendance.
The vocal cleric informed Mbaise people of his role in the saga stating that his hands were “tied” on the consecration of Bishop Okpaleke as he stood between being a hero of Mbaise people and running out of favour with the Church or going according to the hierarchical direction of the Church and being misinterpreted by Ahiara Diocese. He noted that as a man who vowed absolute loyalty to the Church, he had no option than to choose the later and do the consecration. He added that despite what people may believe, many priests of Owerri Diocese have expressed their reservation and many advised that the consecration of Okpaleke should not take place at the Owerri Cathedral hence it was moved to Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Ulakwo.
Arch Bishop Obinna however appealed to Mbaise people and the Catholic community in Ahiara diocese to let peace reign noting that he has no doubt in his mind that Mbaise Priests are eminently qualified to be bishops but stated that the church in their own wisdom has made the choice. He added the Church is a continuous thing stressing that in due course an Mbaise son will be consecrated a Bishop someday. He noted also how Okpaleke so much desired to serve the people of Mbaise if allowed to take over affairs in the Diocese. But regretted that his impediment is not good for the progress of the church in Ahiara diocese. “In fact if you see how this man planned to serve Ahiara Diocese from what he told me, even to bring people to support the Diocese, Mbaise would have given him an opportunity,” the cleric said.
Having made his mind known, many questions were asked by the Mbaise people. The Arch Bishop who tried to offer explanations on why the choice of Okpaleke could not sound convincing. The cleric also pointed out that the appointment of Okpaleke was a surprise to him as his own appointment as Bishop of Owerri long time ago. At the end of meeting, Mbaise people told Arch Bishop Obinna that they are not willing to succumb to the injustice done by some elements who are using their position at the Vatican to foster neo colonialism in the Catholic Church in Nigeria making it look like Awka – Anambra mafia with one highly placed cleric as the Don of the Mafioso.
They people insisted that as long as Mbaise majority has spoken, the minority will never have their way pointing out that Mbaise is fighting for justice in the body of Christ, which every Christian should support. Lady BB Oku from Onicha Ezinihitte Mbaise regretted the campaign of calumny against Mbaise by detractors and the lies being spread by few that Mbaise priests were fighting each other which led to the choice of an outsider, noting that nobody could prove that. Some other sons and daughters of Mbaise at the meeting include; Mr Ambrose Iwu from Lagwa Okwuato and the pioneer President of Mbaise Union in New York, Mrs Chinwe Onwukwe from Okpofe, Mr Matthias Nwahiri among others. At the end of the discussions, Mbaise people in nuiosm asserted, no to Bishop Okpaleke in Ahiara Diocese
