By victor madumere
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was again at the receiving end of a tongue-lashing from the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Anthony Obinna, who opened up on the Governor on the finances and allocation of the state.
Venue was Maria Assumpta Cathedral premises and it was the high mass celebrated to mark this year’s Corpus Christi otherwise known as Christ the King in the Catholic Church. In rare display of courage and statesmanship, the maverick cleric lambasted Okorocha in his face by publicly informing the Governor who attended the mass service in person that he has lost touch with the reality and essence of governance, by undertaking unpopular actions related to finance of the state.
Signs that the Archbishop was turbo-charged to disgrace the State Governor at the Church emerged when he failed to recognize and acknowledge the presence of Okorocha and wife, Nneoma Nkechi as well as members of the enlarged Executive Council who arrived Assumpta Cathedral early for the Christ the King Mass. Instead of recognizing the Governor and wife as protocol demands, Archbishop Obinna merely acknowledged the presence of government functionaries and politicians in the church.
It was during the sermon that Archbishop Obinna sent what could be described as ballistic missiles against Okorocha who was dazed by the cleric’s preaching. On explaining how Jesus Christ became the King of Kings after he was killed and became a subject of mockery in the hands of his assailants, the Archbishop delved into local politics where he expressed reservations over the Anambra governorship. Said he; “there is nothing to show for our money in Imo State. Go to Anambra State and see what Obi has done with public money. But here in Imo, nothing. Our money is being used as if it is personal money of the Governor when it is not supposed to be so”.
While reminding Okorocha that it was at the same podium that he was elected, Obinna asked him to retrace his steps before the wrath of God falls on him because the present government has since disconnected from the governed. The Archbishop further told Okorocha who was within a spitting-distance from him, that “people of Imo State are still waiting for the fulfillment of your campaign promises”.
In a bid to further pummel the Governor, Archbishop Obinna while sympathizing with Nigerian politicians for spending great fortunes during elections, said that political desperation forces politicians to seek alternative means like cultism to survive.
Elaborating on the Anambra 2013 inconclusive election, Archbishop Obinna blamed power and money for the desperation exhibited by politicians. The cleric queried the rationale behind the quest of the APC candidate, Dr Chris Ngige, to cling on to power, adding that the intrigues that played out in the recent Anambra Guber election are ominous signs of what to expect in Imo in 2015 election.
While the congregation applauded, the fiery cleric informed the Governor of Imo State that the state allocation belongs to everybody and not his private fund.
Archbishop Obinna lashed at Okorocha for using state money as if it was his personal fund and enjoined him to emulate the likes of Gov Peter Obi of Anambra who makes available the state fund to all strata of society and organizations.
To worsen the matter, Archbishop Obinna went further to deny Okorocha right of response when he closed the sermon and proceeded with other formalities for the service when he concluded with “I know the Governor would want to reply, but he should go home in a prayerful mood, for today is not for talking too much”.
In the same vein, Leaders in the society has been warned to stop playing God or equating themselves with God almighty because of ordinary political or traditional positions. This warning was handed by Rev Fr Alex Okoro of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mother Parish, Emekuku in a homily he delivered during the 2013 Corpus Christi celebration of the Catholic Church at the church on 24th November, 2013.
Earlier in his homily, Fr Okoro explained that unwarranted disruption of the Corpus Christi by rain during the normal celebration month of June made the church agree to merge the Corpus Christi and Christ the King Feast together for November (dry season).
The priest averred that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings ordained/coroneted by the God Almighty, whose reign is characterized, by humility, love, care and justice for the down trodden and advised leaders in the Nigerian society to emulate Jesus Christ and stop playing God by intimidating their subjects with connection, political and financial influences.
