By Innocent Onyeukwu
Youths and Elders of Owerri Nchi Ise in Owerri Municipality have risen in defense of the Vicar of Christ Anglican Church, Owerri, Venerable Ferdinand Mbalisi.
The Youths and elders under auspices of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) the highest decision making body of the church, described the protests purportedly embarked on by some Youths of Owerri against the Vicar as unacceptable and the handiwork of a cabal in the Church who are bent on removing him (the Vicar) for their selfish purposes.
Speaking to newsmen at the Church premises in Owerri, the Acting Secretary of the PCC, Barrister Chukwuemeka Anyanwu, said no true indigene of Owerri Nchi Ise will dare carry placards against a man of God on a Sunday. He described those who sponsored the shameful act as a cabal that are opposed to the spiritual rebirth and physical growth of the Church.
He said those against the Vicar are uncomfortable with the new innovations of Venerable Mbalisi, describing him as the best Vicar Christ Church has ever had in recent times.
He noted that it is the character of the Cabal to engage any Vicar posted to the Church in a war, saying before the latest onslaught against Venerable Mbalisi, the same cabal engineered the exit of previous Vicars such as Venerable Onyekwereibe and Venerable Dennis Onyekuru with fictious and baseless petitions they sent to the Archbishop of Owerri Anglican Diocese.
Hear Him “it is their character to attack any Vicar sent here. Any Vicar that advocates change in Christ Church is blackmailed by the cabal. They label such Vicars with financial misappropriation. They do all manner of things to blackmail each Vicar sent here. The tenure of each Vicar sent here is four years, but none has stayed here up to two years because of the blackmail strategy of this cabal. Venerable Mbalisi has done wonderfully well since he came here. They are not happy because of his wonderful innovations”.
Barr. Anyanwu who is an indigene of Owere Nchi Ise added that the blackmail on Venerable Mbalisi is as a result of selfishness and the refusal of the cabal who have been in the Church PCC for over 20 years to embrace change. He said this group of men has opposed elections into the PCC for a long period, as they hijack everything in the Church including contracts.
He revealed that a member of the cabal after collecting church donations to the tune of N2.6 million naira went and purchased a refurbished Generator for the Church at N600, 000, thus embezzling N2million naria.
He added that there are several items approved for them yet they went ahead to purchase such items at a price not commensurate with the money approved for such jobs, stating that this is why most of the church equipments cannot function at optimum capacity.
He stressed that since Venerable Mbalisi was appointed Vicar, the population of church worshippers have increased to 4,000 in addition to other wonderful innovations of the Vicar.
Speaking in the same vein, a youth in the church and an Owere indigene, kelechi Ogazi, exonerated Owerri youths from the protest purportedly carried out by some youths. He stressed that Owerri Youths are peaceful and God fearing, adding that those who came on the protest are hired thugs sponsored by the cabal in the church.
He said it is shameful a right thinking person could contemplate sponsoring and embarking on protest against a man of God on a Sunday, saying the wrath of God will befall those who organized and sponsored the shameful act against the Vicar. Ogazi explained that gone are the days few people will hold the Church to ransome, stating that they are happy with the policies and programmes of the Vicar who have introduced good innovations in the church.
Adding his voice to the Vicar’s defense, a youth member of the Church, Mr. Chinedu Oguoma said he is ashamed the cabal in the church could go the extra mile to sponsor a protest against a man of God, stating that Venerable Mbalisi does not deserve such treatment meted to him.
He said “I can tell you that those who came on that protest on Sunday were paid. They confessed to us that they were paid to invade the church premises and carry placards against the Vicar. It is shameful anyone can contemplate such action. It is regrettable”.
It will be recalled that last Sunday, some youths invaded the premises of Christ Church calling for the sack of Venerable Mbalisi. They alleged that the Speaker called Owerri people cowards.
