Tension is brewing in Mbaise land, especially at Ahiara Catholic Diocese as stake holders in the Diocese, have vowed to resist the consecration of Monsignor Peter Okpaleke as Bishop elect of Ahiara Diocese.
They insist that the Mbaise nation will not accept now and forever any Bishop of Ahiara Diocese who is not an indigenous clergy. In a letter addressed to the Archbishop by stakeholders comprising the laity, clergy, youths and women groups (names withheld), they stated in clear language that the nomination of Monsignor Peter Okpaleke from Awka Diocese as Bishop elect of Ahiara Diocese is totally unacceptable to them now and till the end of the century. While describing Okpaleke’s nomination to be tainted with injustice, they vowed that the consecration will not take place in any of soil of the Mbaise nation.
“We wish to assure your grace that it will be an exercise in futility as monsignor Okpaleke will never ruler over us even as a Bishop in exile” they declared.
The letter which Trumpeta got wind of reads in part. “There is a story your grace, making the rounds that Monsignor Okpaleke and his people have arranged to invade our Diocese with armed men and compel you to consecrate him (Okpaleke) Bishop. Should this story be true, we assure your Grace that we have no arms, if you want to kill with armed men; the God of justice will fight for us. Mbaise Nation will use all legitimate means available to us to ensure that this does not happen”
The stakeholders further averred that the Mbaise nation will use legitimate means to ensure that Monsignor Okpaleke is not consecrated, stating that it is in the interest to the Catholic church in Ahiara Diocese, the church in Owerri Ecclesiastical Province to advise Monsignor Okpaleke to forget the idea of becoming Bishop of Ahiara Diocese by whatever means.
“His nomination has brought sadness to our people and is tainted with grave religious and political injustice” they fired.
They however, assured the Archbishop of their loyalty to the leadership of the church, but insisted that justice must be done by not imposing any outsider on them, by appointing an indigenous Clergy as the next Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.
