No Retreat, No Surrender on Rejection of Bishop Elect, Okpaleke

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by anthony anyanwu

The crisis which has enveloped the appointment of Monsignor Peter Okpaleke as the new Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese has entered another dimension with the Catholic fateful of the Diocese embarking on a peaceful demonstration within the entire Mbaise Land.

Trumpeta Newspaper investigation can authoritatively reveal that both the clergy and laity of the Diocese will on Thursday May 16, 2013 march through the major roads in Mbaise in their black attire culminating at the Cathedral at Ahiara where there will be a commendation service.

Thereafter, it is anticipated that the people will release an earth-shaking communiqué to further express their total rejection of Monsignor Okpaleke or any other non-Mbaise indigene as the new Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.

Before now, there have been several petitions and demonstrations against this singular appointment and plan to foist a non Mbaise origin as the Bishop in the area.

It is on record that seven months before the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, that the Catholic fateful of Mbaise extraction went on a delegation to the Vatican City where they unanimously rejected the appointment and consecration of Monsignor Okpaleke as their new bishop.

Consequently, the Vatican City on the directive of the Holy Father sent emissaries to Mbaise Diocese to have firsthand information of what the situation on ground is all about.

The most recent is the visit of Cardinal Onaiyekan who is quoted to have expressed regrets on the attempt to bastardize and politicize the Christendom in Mbaise nation.

It will be recalled that weeks ago that the Catholic fateful of Mbaise had warned Archbishop Anthony Obinna of the Owerri Archdiocese to desist from the rumoured plan to consecrate the Bishop elect.

They made it clear that the nomination of Monsignor Okpaleke has brought sadness to the people as it is tainted with grave religious and political injustice.