Pope sends powerful delegation led by Cardinal Turkson to Mbaise to resolve bishopric crisis in Ahiara Diocese

Pope sends powerful delegation led by Ghanaian-born Cardinal Turkson (Middle) to Mbaise to resolve bishopric crisis in Ahiara Diocese

• Okpalaeke cannot come here - Mbaise insists

By Jasper Nwachukwu
His Eminence, Pope Francis finally shows  interest in the crises that has been rocking the Ahiara Mbaise catholic diocese in Imo state for over three years now, the people and clergy of Ahiara Mbaise have restated their total rejection of Reverend Father PeterOkpaleke who was appointed the bishop of the diocese after the death of the first bishop of the diocese, Bishop Victor Chikwe, who was an indigene of the area.

They stated this while interacting with the Pope’s representative, Cardinal Peter ApiaTurkson who came on behalf of the secretary of state, Vatican city, Cardinal Pietro Parolinat the instance of the Pope to hear from the people of the area and ascertain their position on the Okpaleke issue.

Speaking to journalists after the interaction with the papal envoy, Rev Fr Austin B.Ekechukwu said the people of Mbaise can notshift grounds on Okpaleke which he said is justified as his appointment was very lopsided and connotes the marginalization of the people of Mbaise and their very many priests.

Fr Ekechukwu said the crises could not have lingered this long if the Nigerian authorities led by Cardinal Francis Arinze had been sincere and impartial. He also indicted the Catholic Bishops Council of Nigeria, CBCN, Arch Bishop John Onaiyekan who was appointed the diocesan administrator, Arch Bishop Cassuja, the papal nuncio to Nigeria, Cardinal Filliony of the Vatican and Archbishop AJV Obinna, who is themetropolitan bishop of the Owerriarchdiocese as the brains behind the conspiracy against the catholic people of  Mbaise.

He reiterated that the Mbaises became too furious when some dioceses were obliged with indigenous bishops years  after they started their own agitation which he said confirmed their fears that there was a high profile conspiracy against them adding that the people have resolved to fight this injustice even with the last drop of their blood.

He blamed cardinal Arinze and his biased cohorts as mentioned above  for being responsible for the escalation of the crises and regretted that the issue would not have gone international had they been sincere and selfless in the appointment of a bishop forAhiara Mbaise.

Fr Ekechukwu however appealed to the Pope to very urgently look into the position of theMbaises and grant them their wish since the people have insisted that they want nothing short of a substantive bishop from among them, which the Pope himself preaches.

Another priest of the area, Rev Fr Ben Ogutold us that the Okpaleke saga is an already closed issue as the people of Mbaise will never accept him and appealed to him to immediately resign his appointment to save the church more embarrassment. He asked the Pope to kindly oblige the Mbaises with a substantive indigenous bishop which he said will end the agitation and revitalize the almost battered faith of the catholic Mbaises.

However, anti Okpaleke placards which were displayed by the people of Mbaise during their meeting with the papal envoy confirmed their total rejection of Fr Okpaleke and their resolve to maintain their stand until the appointment of Okpaleke is reversed.

Some analysts who spoke to us are of the opinion that a huge injustice has been meted out to the people of Mbaise and called on the Vatican to urgently remedy the situation to save the catholic  church expecially in the area from ridicule and disintegration. They added that the only thing that will calm the situation is a reversal of Okpaleke’sappointment and the ordination of an indigenous bishop for Mbaise emphasizing that no amount of intimidation or pressure can subdue the already determined and bruised minds of the Mbaises.

It will be recalled that Cardinal Turkson who represented the Pope was in Mbaise on a two day fact finding and reconciliatory mission during which period he interacted with both the priests and the people of the area before going back to Rome.