Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State
. Priests comply, write apology letter to Pontiff
By Matthew Don
They – the Ahiara Catholic Diocese Priests and Laity – the arrowhead of the protest against Bishop Peter Okpaleke sent to their Diocese, who ran to Governor Rochas Okorocha for intervention recently have got what they bargained for from their worldly father who appears to even be more spiritual than they are.
Okorocha seems to have also rejected them by asking them to go back to the Pontiff and respect his wish being God’s representative here on earth. The recalcitrant priests and their laity followers staged another protest at the weekend reiterating their former resolve to reject Okpaleke even when the Pope had directed that all the Catholic priests from Mbaise write a letter of apology to him on or before Sunday, July 9.
But it had been said by one of the priests’ leaders that they have written the apology letter to the Pontiff as demanded, thereby eating the humble pie.
Okorocha who met weekend with the Priests and Laity in the Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise explained to them the need to obey the directive of the Pope by accepting Bishop Okpaleke as the Bishop of the Diocese.
The governor told the Priests and Laity at the headquarters of the Diocese that the decision of the Pope was binding on them and regretted that the Priests were in the forefront of the agitation.
He told them that the Church would become an object of mockery if the crisis ends the way the Priests and Laity in the Diocese want it to end.
His word: “I’m here in Ahiara Mbaise Diocese to bring peace. I’ve been meeting with the priests of this Diocese for over one hour now. And the meeting is all about peace, peace, peace. Peace is very expensive and the bible says to us, pursue peace and not walk towards peace because peace is a very very expensive commodity, but there can be no peace without justice.
“I am a catholic, and I’m also the governor of Imo State. I’ve come here to see my people and address you on the burning issues affecting this Diocese. But I wish you can listen to me attentively so that you can go home with something. I’ve had meeting with all the Priests. I’ve listened to their anger, their grievances and I’m aware of all the historical backgrounds following this agitation. But the moment we are now is a very bad moment. There are so many agitations, so many crises here and there and it looks like Satan has relocated his headquarters to Nigeria. But by the grace of God, we shall fight and destroy these satanic forces.
“We’re talking about Ahiara Diocese, IPOB, Boko Haram, Kidnapping, Niger Delta etc. But the one that touches me so much is the crisis of Ahiara Diocese because this touches the fabrics of our faith. First, we’re Christians and you must understand that Christianity is a very difficult religion because Christianity doesn’t preach comfort for us rather, ability to accept persecution. Today, we have a challenge that whatever has made Ahiara a centre of crisis, we must change it for better.
“Declaration of Biafran War, Ahiara; killing of a steward, Ahiara and now, Diocesan agitation spanning six years and attracting global focus also Ahiara. We must change the story of Ahiara. I want to state here categorically that since this crisis, I’ve been listening patiently and watching. But I had wished that my advise was taken ab-initio and ipso-facto. If Mbaise must be in the news, it must be in the news for the right reasons. This is because Mbaise is the largest single ethnic group in the South-East and there is no place you will go in this world, without having an Mbaise man, doing well in that region. Mbaise contributes substantially to what makes Imo thick.
“Now listen very well my brothers, what I want to say to you now is for your benefit and betterment. You must know that too much of right can also lead to wrong. Mbaise people have made their point. The whole world has heard you, they have listened to you, any further issue on this matter by Mbaise, might not be spoken the way it had been heard before. Let me tell you the gospel truth of how the world is looking at you now, I don’t know how you will take it after my speech now. But I have spoken like Pontus Pilate, I have come to restore peace in this particular place.
“The whole world knows that the Pope has asked all the priests from Mbaise to write a letter of apology to him minus a few of them, to beg the Pope. It might be right, it might be wrong but that’s not the question. But the fact is that before the world, we are no longer enjoying this peace because Mbaise has more priests in the whole of South-East. But sometimes, a wise person behaves foolishly for the sake of his children. So, we must change our style before we deny ourselves of our justice.
“It’s unfortunate that the priests themselves are at the very front of this agitation because the decision of the Pope is binding on them. Please, we must preserve this our priestly order by maintaining the status quo from the papacy. Mbaise must never be seen as a people that disobeyed the Pope and the church.
“Christianity never taught us to be violent rather it’s all about enduring persecution and pains. So, like the priests agreed with me earlier, there must be no room for protest. For now you have done well but don’t overdo it, just leave the stage when the ovation is hot.
“I don’t think any Bishop would like to come to a place where the people don’t want him. You can’t force people to be with somebody they don’t want to stay with. But be careful how you reject people because many a times, the rejected always turns out to be the best. There should be no more protests. No matter who the Pope sends to you, you must rise up to welcome him if not, the church will become an object of mockery. Because if the Pope takes it the way you want it, the church, the Catholic Church will die.
“I want you to see the possibility that Mbaise sons can also become Bishops elsewhere extending to other states and will be accepted like any other.”
At the end, Reverend Father ( Dr.) Joseph Ezeji gave the vote of thanks, pledging allegiance to the papacy, to abide by the decisions of the Pope and confirming that all Mbaise Priests have written their letters of apology to the Pope. He stated that what the people are asking for is for any Bishop groomed from their soil to lead them.
He said that the canon law seems to have been bent in the case of Ahiara Diocese, according to a statement by Okorocha’s media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo.