By Casca Ohanele
The Catholic Arch Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, His Grace, AJV Obinna has said that the handing over of the 11 general hospitals in Imo State to a Muslim Northerner, by the administration of Gov. Rochas Okorocha, should not be a thorny issue if due process was followed.
The respected cleric made the remark while addressing newsmen in his office yesterday on the upcoming annual Odenigbo lecture.
He noted thatNigeriais a God given nation where everyone should work for peace in the nation irrespective of religious affiliation. He added that if the company that the hospitals have been handed to is capable of revamping the hospitals in the State as the Governor has argued, the people ofImoStateshould watch and see how sincere the Governor is.
Arch Bishop Obinna, also explained that the state government has pledged to complete road projects in the state as soon as the rainy season is over.
He made it pointedly clear the church will not relent in condemning evil at all times.
On the increasing rate of insecurity in the state, he blamed unemployment and corrupt leadership, twin factors, which he stated has given the youths a wrong notion about life as they tend to be in a haste to make money at all cost.
The Arch Bishop called on government to show good example and engage the youths meaningfully.
On the just concluded 2012 London Olympics, the cleric expressed disappointment over the poor outing ofNigeriaat the mundial. Bishop Obinna challenged Nigerians to ensure that the nation performs better at the next Olympics Brazil 2014.
He added that he is offering the sports facilities at the Assumpta Cathedral for training as a way of encouraging sports development in the State and the nation at large.
On the upcoming Odenigbo 2012 lecture, Arch Bishop Obinna called on parents to teach their children Igbo Language as a mark of identity. He said that he who speaks Igbo, honours God and respects the Igbo identity. He charged the media to be partners in progress in propagating the speaking and teaching of Igbo Language in the society.
The Bishop who expressed concern over a publication in Sun Newspaper with the caption: Igbo Language will soon go into extinction, said it is a challenge to all Igbo sons and daughters. According to the cleric, “He whose language is dead is a dead person”.
He added that Odenigbo lecture which started 17years ago with the first lecture delivered by Prof Emmanuel N. Emenanjo from Delta state, was conceived by him in 1973 as a way of giving back to the Igbo society what God has given him.
Hear the Archbishop “In 1973 while studying abroad, I discovered that no matter how good I speak English, French or Spanish, I cannot be an English man. I made a vow that if God gives me the grace, I will do something to propagate Igbo Language. Igbo Language will be alive if the Igbo people want it to survive”, he noted.
In his reaction, the Imo State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Innocent Igwe, commended the Arch Bishop for all his efforts in the sustenance of the annual Odenigbo lecture and assured him that members of the press will give the 2012 Odenigbo lecture which will be delivered by Most Rev Dr. Lucius Ugorji, the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, the adequate publicity it deserves.
