By Kelechi Ugo
Contrary to reports in some Owerri based local tabloids that Mbaise traditional rulers have endorsed the return of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke to Ahiara Diocese, a some traditional rulers in Mbaise land led by Eze Mike Abii have disclaimed the position of other set of traditional rulers led by Eze Chidume Okoro who claimed that the entire Mbaise monarch have endorsed Okpalaeke’s return to Ahiara Diocese.
He stressed that out of the entire Ezes of Mbaise, only few who are not even Catholics and non practicing Catholics, were instrumental to the bunch of lies. Eze Abii said that the entire Ezes of Mbaise who are in the majority are solidly behind the decision of the indigenous priests, religious and laity of Mbaise in their rejection of the imposition of a Bishop whose appointment contravenes Due process of the Canon law.
In his submission, HRH Eze Alexander Ike of Umuhu autonomous community added that there was no time and, Ndi Eze Mbaise, met or will meet to take over a matter that is beyond their jurisdiction as religious leaders should handle religious matters while Ndi Eze tackle matters of customs and tradition, and effectively carry out their new responsibilities given them in the CGC government.
The traditional ruler said that the public should disregard the fabricated lies by some self serving traditional rulers who may have collected money from Awka people to sabotage and betray the collective resolve and struggle of Mbaise Nation against injustice on their people. He called on the few Ezes who are making themselves ready tools to destabilize Mbaise to desist immediately or face the wrath of the gods of Mbaise.
In submission, the immediate past Chairman of Mbaise Council of Traditional rulers, HRH Eze Amaefule, Aladimma of Oboama Ezinihittee Mbaise, he said that the public should disregard any insinuation that Bishop Okpalaeke will arrive Mbaise this June.
He emphasized that the support of Mbaise Traditional rulers are strongly behind the position taken by majority of the Mbaise Nation.
In another development the president of Catholic Youth Organization of Ahiara Diocese, Mr Sylvester Oparaoji said that many of the youths have been receiving threats from the five priests who have been on suspension even before the demise of the former bishop but now parade themselves as champions of Bishop Okpaleke for relevance, asking them to accept the imposed bishop. He noted that the youths have been approached by some Ezes and the few priest with monetary inducement which they mobilized from some renowned Awka Anambra tycoons for the purpose of lobbying the youths to accept their brother. The youth leader said their support to the indigenous priest, religious and laity of Mbaise extraction on the rejection of Bishop Okpaleke is unchangeable as it did not follow due process.
He cautioned the few traditional rulers who are romancing with Awka people and the few disgruntled priests, to desist from spreading false hood or be ready to encore the wrath of the youths of Mbaise who are already disappointed on the conduct of the few Ezes who signed the publication in the white paper Newspaper claiming to have taken over the Bishopric crisis in Ahiara and insinuated that the Bishop will arrive Mbaise in June.
In a related development, an Mbaise Catholic Faithful in diaspora, Prof. Edward Oparaoji has urged Mbaise people not to show any apologetic mood against the lingering dust raise by the introduction of peter Okalaeke as the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.
Speaking with journalists immediately after a meeting with Mbaise traditional rulers held at Nguru centre on Tuesday, Prof Oparaoji who represented Mbaise Catholic faithful in diaspora noted that selection of Okpalaeke as the Bishop was not via due process adding that the late Bishop of the diocese had been sending names of some proposed Rev. Father’s that would succeed him before his demise in accordance with the Canon Law noting that the list was jettisoned by Cardinal Arinze who instead presented his brother Okpalaeke against canon law.
The American based Catholic faithful noted that Okpalaeke’s name was not among those names that have been forwarded to Rome for confirmation.
“It is injustice to impose Okpalaeke on us; name was never his forwarded to Rome during the reign of our late Bishop. We should stand on the truth and nothing but the truth” he concluded.
He noted that why Mbaise people are demanding for indigenous Bishop was that there were three final list of indigenous priest sent to Rome before Okpalaeke was announced the diocese Bishop.
