By Onyekachi Eze
An indication that there is no love lost between the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the powerful Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Anthony Obinna, has, manifested at the weekend as the re-elected governor who took oath of office for another tenure abandoned the Owerri Archdiocese, domain of Archbishop Obinna, to hold his thanksgiving service at Orlu Diocese.
As part of his inauguration programme after being sworn in for second term, Okorocha marked a thanksgiving service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu, in Orlu Catholic Diocese.
The exercise which surprised people of the state was in sharp contrast to his earlier programmes where the state governor undertook several church services including his first thanksgiving service in 2011 at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri.
In a rather surprise move, Okorocha jettisoned Owerri where he had been having religious observations since he became governor for Orlu.
Trumpeta learnt that the governor’s action might not be unconnected with the seeming cold war between the governor and the fiery cleric after the romantic relationship at the early stages of Okorocha’s administration.
After playing prominent roles that brought Okorocha into power in 2011, rancorous relationship stepped in with minor face-off between the Catholic Church in Owerri Archdiocese and the governor. Apart from the verbal lashes Archbishop Obinna extended to Okorocha during one of the Christ the King celebrations in Owerri, the recently held controversial governorship debate to herald the 2015 guber elections held at Obiri Odenigbo, Assumpta Villa, Owerri further increased the bickering even as the Okorocha government complained over the editorial style of “The Leader Newspaper”, operated by Obinna’s Owerri Archdiocese.
Having braced the odds to win for a second tenure, Okorocha may have turned his back on Archbishop Obinna by failing to hold the thanksgiving service in Assumpta.
Irrespective of the fact that Okorocha poached Archbishop Obinna’s elder brother Paddy Obinna as one of his appointees, a frosty relationship still exists between the two persons.
Speaking at the event, Okorocha revealed that there is no failure in his dictionary and his pattern of administration, adding that the next four years which will elapse in 2019 will be superb and unique pointing out that there will be lots of merriment and recognition for those who merit it.
He further disclosed that at the commencement of the Imo Rescue Mission administration on 2011, he promised the elimination of kidnapping, insecurity, boasting that as it stands today, such vices are things of the past which he promised to uphold till the completion of his second term in office, with consolidation of his unfinished projects.
Owelle Okorocha assured the clergymen and Imolites of a proud governance which will embrace everybody so as to meet up to the standard of making Imo State the envy of other states in the country. He solicited for their prayers as he takes up the mantle of leadership of Imo State for a second term.
However, Governor Okorocha made a donation of one hundred million naira (N100,000,000) on behalf of the state government to Orlu Cathedral for the roof renovation, while his supporters, Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, Chief Chidi Felix Idiga, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, Senator Osita Izunaso and other APC appointees made a donation of forty-five million, six hundred and seventy thousand naira (N45,670,000) to the church.
Highlight of the civic reception celebrated by the two Bishops of Orlu Diocese, Bishop Augustine J. Ukwuoma and Bishop Emeritus Gregory Ochiagha with priests conferred a title of “Nnaoma di Ebube” to the governor and Her Excellency, Nkechi Okorocha as “Nneoma”.
The Chief Celebrant, Bishop Ukwuoma thanked God for a successful electioneering period in Imo and Nigeria, describing it as handwork of God to elect the right leaders. He prayed for God’s wisdom on Okorocha so as to lead in the order of Solomon in the bible, advising the state governor not to see his political opponents as personal enemies and to have a listening ear in order to do better in his second term.
Lots of gift items were donated to the governor including a life horse and sacramentals as a sign of welcome and appreciation.
