By Casca Ohanele
Following the announcement of John Cardinal Onaiyekan by the Pope as the administrator of the Ahiara Diocese as well as reported jubilation by priests and laity, there is a glimpse of hope that a Bishop of Ahiara extraction may emerge at the end of the day.
Notable leaders in Mbaise have been reacting on the present development stressing that the Mbaise Nation has won round one of the fight.
According to one Ahiara indigenous priest of the Claretian order who is pastoring in Abuja, Rev Fr Chrysantus Uzochukwu Ohanele Cmf, he described Cardinal Onaiyekan as a meticulous clergy who is well rooted in spirituality noting that he will use his present position to ensure that the right thing is done in Ahiara Diocese, calling on the priest, religious and the entire Mbaise people to give the necessary support to Cardinal Onaiyekan as God is already answering the prayers of his people of Mbaise.
In his own reaction, the President of Ahiara Catholic Youth Organization, Mr Sylvester, expressed happiness over the appointment of Cardinal Onaiyekan as administrator of Ahiara Diocese. He noted that Mbaise have been fighting against the injustice and the breech of due process in the appointment of the rejected Bishop Okpaleke not that the people have anything personal against him but he expressed disappointment over the conduct of the rejected Bishop which he said was an act of negative desperation which is in contrast with the instruction given by Christ to his disciples.
There are strong indications that the Catholic Church may have decided on the decision of John Cardinal Onaiyekan, as administrator of the troubled diocese as a soft land for a new Bishop of Ahiara who may be of Mbaise extraction. Cardinal Onaiyekan will come as a stop gap for the would-be Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representative, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha has congratulated the new Ahiara Diocese administrator, John Cardinal Onaiyekan over his appointment.
In a statement issued by the media aide to the Deputy Speaker, Mr Chibuike Onyeukwu, Ihedioha described the appointment by the Holy See as timely and responsive considering the crisis that engulfed the Diocese since the appointment of Bishop Okpaleke. He described Cardinal Onaiyekan as a symbol of peace, godliness and an ambassador of God to Mbaise, urging all Mbaise people to accord him maximum support and cooperation through fervent prayers, advice and sincere support to enable him restore peace and administer the Diocese to the glory of God.
Again, our observer who went to Mbaise said that some of the traditional rulers of Mbaise who were against the Mbaise interest by championing the arrival of the rejected Bishop Okpaleke are in a desperate move to save their face following the present development, as some where seen visiting the present administrator, Monsgr Theo Nwalo and the parishes of some indigenous priests to clear the air on their role in the purported attempt to bring Bishop Okpaleke into Mbaise which was vehemently resisted by the entire Mbaise Nation.
