Youths of the five villages that make up Owerri Nchi Ise inOwerriMunicipalitywent berserk last Sunday when they stormed the premises of Christ Anglican Church, Owerri to protest over the actions of the vicar, Venerable Mbalisi.
The youths were aggrieved, alleging that ever since the Vicar assumed leadership of the Church, Owerri indigenes serving in the Church have not had it fair. They allege that the Vicar in one of his sermons called Owerri people cowards.
Leading the protesters were the five youth chairmen ofOwerriMunicipalitywho led hundreds of youths to query the actions of the Vicar.
In a petition addressed to the Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Diocese, and made available to Imo Trumpeta they alleged in part ‘Ven Mbalisi has insulted the collective psyche of Owerri people. Precisely, on the 5th August, 2012, at the last PCC which he presided, he called Owerri people evil people and cowards. He went further to deride the appointment of Barr.Ndukwe Nnawuchi as SAN and the recent award conferred on Sir Emma Offurum as a fluke and unmerited. … He threatened that no Owerri indigene, male or female would any more work inChristChurch, Owerri. To make good his threat, and by way of massaging his ego as CEO of Christ Church Plc, he has relieved indigenes of Owerri working in Christ Church Owerri of their jobs or has being refused being employed’
They also alleged that the Vicar has not carried the PCC of the Church along, citing some actions he took without recourse to the Church’s PCC.
The youths who carried several placards with the inscription ‘Ven Mbalisi has overstayed’, ‘Bishop, please take away Ven Mbalisi, called for the removal of the Vicar.
In his sharp response to these allegations, Venerable Mbalisi, who spoke to Imo Trumpeta in an interview, denied the allegations leveled against him, saying it is a ploy orchestrated by a cabal in the Church to deride and tarnish his image. He said it is not true that he placed a curse on Owerri people, stating that as a man of God, he cannot curse but rather bless his people.
He said since he was appointed Vicar of Christ Church, he has taken practical steps to improve the condition of the church by erecting infrastructure that has uplifted and beautified it.
‘I have constructed a new building in the church, take a look at the Church and see the massive and remarkable improvement. On allegations that he unilaterally takes decisions without consulting the church’s PCC, he said it is not true as there are council minutes to prove that all his actions were backed up by the PCC’
He said it is unfortunate that some people could sponsor some youths to tarnish his image, saying he is not perturbed since all the allegations against him are false and malicious.
