By onyekachi eze
Pandemonium was recorded at St Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Mgbidi, Oru West Local Government Area, Imo state, at the weekend when the entire CWO members of the Parish spotting black attire and went berserk to protest against their parish priest, Rev Fr Eugene Dike.
The demonstration which was in sequel to the application earlier submitted to the Divisional Police Officer of Mgbidi resulted to confusion and anarchy in the area as it drew crowd to the scene of the event. Instead of the usual first Saturday Mass for the members of the Catholic Women Organization, (CWO), held every first Saturday of the month in all catholic churches, demonstration by the women was observed at the Mgbidi Catholic Church.
According to the women who carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, since 2009 the Rev Fr Eugene Dike was posted in their parish, he only rendered the audited account to the women only once which was the account of Women’s August Meeting held on 2009, but was read on 2010.
The women said that fresh trouble began after the 2010 Ezinne, Odiuko, Nneoma conferment and award on some of the devoted women which generated millions of naira from guests and recipients. The women said that when they smell a rat that Fr Dike was becoming funny about giving financial accounts, they push the matter to the Dean of St Theresa’s Region, Uli, Very Rev Fr Dr Dominic Nwauzor, who mandated Fr Eugene and the independent auditor to render the account before the members which he refused till date in what they termed “one man show business”.
Similarly, they went further to highlight alleged unconstitutional and punitive measures implored by the parish priest against the parishioners which they termed as inhumane and sacrilege in the church.
Among the allegations leveled against the parish priest include; Taxation of N30,000 to the bereaved family before the deceased will be buried by him in the church, refusing to preside over the burial mass of those he considers opposition to his activities, public assaults to the parishioners especially the CWO members, indiscriminate School Fees increment of the Church Primary School, Instigating the women against each other through divide and rule tactics.
Addressing the women, the Bishop’s delegate who was sent to the venue by Orlu Catholic Diocese, Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma, Rev Fr Kelechi Ihemtuga, and the Diocesan CWO President, Ezinne Lady Annn Obioha requested the women to bury their hatchet as the Bishop of Orlu Diocese, and other Diocesan officials are not aware of their plights and complaints but assured them of expected response before the expiration of one week as the church neither condones nor tolerate such unhealthy developments
Among the inscription in their placards reads; Fr Eugene Dike, you have made things to fall apart and the centre cannot hold again, “Fr Dike is a pagan priest”, “Fr Dike, our alter burnt down under your regime”, “Fr Eugene Dike has murdered peace and shall sleep no more”, among others.
Among the women who made their speeches include; Mrs V C Jacobs, Mrs Eucharia Nwabueze, Mrs Regina Ewurum, Eziada Anthonia Igwegbe, including other women who were chanting songs of sorrow. The action of the women who blocked the church gate forced the priest to retreat and remain indoors with security men who came to his rescue. While the obligatory catholic ritual of observing All Souls mass could not hold, the normal catholic Christians Mothers mass also failed to hold.
Efforts to reach Fr Dike for comments and allegations leveled against him failed and calls to his phone remained unanswered.
