AHIARA DIOCESE IN CROSSHAIRS: THE REAL STORIES …34 [EXCERPTS FROM A BOOK IN PRINT]

Chapter 13: The Die is cast [ii]

The official rejection of the May 21 date for the ordination of Msgr. Okpalaeke in Ahiara Diocese would mark the beginning of a new era in the struggle in Ahiara Diocese. It meant that there would be no way the ordination would take place in the diocese without the use of force. It appeared as if both parties had resolved that for the May 21 date to become a reality it would have to involve the introduction of the police and the military that would fight and subdue the people of Ahiara Diocese so as to get Msgr. Okpalaeke ordained. The people of Ahiara Diocese would revolve never to yield to such an intimidation. As a result, efforts were on top gear to prepare the psyche of the people of the diocese that a massive invasion was on the way and to prepare the people to resist it. There were activities at different levels.

First, each parish in Ahiara Diocese was mobilized to write a personal letter to the Pope asking for his personal intervention for the resolution of the crisis in the diocese. The tone of the letter was that the Holy Father should reassign the new bishop to another diocese and give Mbaise people their own son as their bishop. About 69 of the 73 parishes in the diocese would comply with this directive. Each parish was asked to provide five copies of their letters all signed by the representatives of the different groups of the parish. The letters were quickly packaged together in five different envelopes with an attached general letter signed by the leaders of the struggle. The whole packages were sent to the Holy Father through a great son of Mbaise who was returning to Rome after the Easter celebration.

Some of the earlier paragraphs of the covering letter read thus:

With filial obedience and heavy hearts, we, your children and members of your flock in Ahiara Diocese, Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria, are crying out to Your Holiness for an urgent intervention and assistance so as to save our most cherished Catholicism in our diocese. On December 7, 2012, it was announced that one Msgr. Ebere Peter Okpalaeke of Awka Diocese, Anambra State, Nigeria, had been appointed the bishop-elect of our Diocese of Ahiara, Mbaise. This announcement jolted and jaded every member of our diocese and transformed our once peaceful diocese into a haven of anger and pain.

Msgr. Ebere Peter Okpalaeke’s coming to Ahiara Diocese to serve as a bishop is just like putting a square peg in a round hole. He speaks a different dialect from that commonly understood in our diocese. He has a different lifestyle, philosophy and mannerism from the ones we practise in our diocese. His potential ministry in our diocese will cause anger, distraction and disaffection in the faith of our people. His presence in our diocese will divide the clergy and the lay faithful alike, and ultimately will impair pastoral ministry in our diocese.

Msgr. Okpalaeke’s potential apostolate here will greatly endanger the salvation of the souls of the Catholic faithful of our diocese. His services as a bishop here will benefit nobody, neither the universal Catholic Church nor the faithful of the local church of Ahiara Diocese. In view of all these, the Catholic faithful of Ahiara Diocese resolved with one voice to oppose his appointment, ordination and installation in our Cathedral as our bishop. This is because we want the best for our beloved diocese and not the worst.

Moreover, Msgr. Okpalaeke is coming from Awka Diocese in Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province into Ahiara Diocese in Owerri Ecclesiastical Province. History bears witness that between the two provinces there has been raging an unhealthy rivalry that has endured for many decades. Onitsha provincial priests and bishops seem to have it as their “birthright” to “colonize” and “dominate” their counterparts from Owerri province. Aided by a top member of the Church hierarchy at the Vatican, they have accomplished quite a lot in their project of dominating Owerri Province. Ironically it appears like a minority trying to dominate the majority. It is this mentality that has been feeding the resentment that is now about to explode into untoward events that could cause an enormous embarrassment and scandal in the Nigerian Church.

On the part of Msgr. Okpalaeke, there began some concerted efforts to arrange for a security apparatus that would ensure that the ordination went ahead in Maria Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral, Ahiara, as planned. Ahiara diocesan priests were often reminded that the bishop-elect had earlier boasted to Archbishop Obinna when he first learned of the resistance to his appointment in Ahiara Diocese that he would use whatever means available to him to realize his bishopric mandate in the diocese. Now appeared to be the time he would make good of that boast. So, all eyes were open to see what he would do next. It appeared that he was not going to be sleeping in his attempt to overcome the roadblocks mounted against him in Ahiara Diocese.

The position of the bishops of Owerri Province on the standoff was not quite clear. Nobody knew what they were up to; whether they would support an invasion of Ahiara Diocese or not. While many priests of Ahiara Diocese were convinced that Archbishop Obinna and the bishops of the province were working in cahoots with their counterparts of the CBCN and the bishop-elect to use force to bring about the ordination in Ahiara Diocese, a few of the priests, yours truly, included, were adamant in their conviction that Archbishop Obinna would never go back on his word not to invade Ahiara Diocese with soldiers in order to get Msgr. Okpalaeke ordained a bishop.

Some of us would receive a lot of flak for holding unto such a view or for believing that the archbishop and the other bishops of the province meant well for Ahiara Diocese. This was because as early as January 2013, Archbishop Obinna had said that as the metropolitan of Owerri Province with the responsibility to ensure the ordination of Msgr. Okpalaeke as a bishop, if he arrived at the gate of Maria Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral Ahiara for the ordination and was asked to leave, he would comply as he would not want to be a party to the use of force in the ordination of a bishop. Some of us believed quite strongly that he would never go back on that promise. But those who had such a belief in Archbishop Obinna and the bishops of the province were in a terrible minority. It appeared as if the majority of the priests of the diocese had completely made up their minds that all the bishops of Nigeria had become enemies of Ahiara Diocese.

As tension gradually approached a breaking point during this period, both the Caucus and general meetings of the priests of the diocese were gathering everyday to strategize against any eventualities that might break upon the diocese. In one of such meetings, it would be revealed that the administrator had of late come under very intense pressure by both the Nuncio and Archbishop Obinna to write an official letter to Msgr. Okpalaeke informing him that his Episcopal ordination had been scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Majority of the priests were threatening the administrator never to send such a letter. Some of us saw no big deal in the demand and therefore advised the administrator to use his discretion in that regard.

However, by the end of that evening, information came all the way from Abuja that the bishop-elect had met with officials of the police and the army asking for adequate security to ensure the success of his Episcopal ordination in Ahiara Diocese on May 21. This appeared like an alarm set off throughout Ahiara Diocese. Nearly everybody in Ahiara Diocese became convinced that the bishop-elect was too desperate to let go his so-called Episcopal mandate. But it would not surprise many people that the bishop-elect was alleged to have made such a move. For many, that was in fulfilment of the threat he had given earlier on that he would employ whatever means available to him to realize his Episcopal mandate in Ahiara Diocese.

Unfortunately for the bishop-elect, the security officials in Abuja had asked him to tender a letter from Ahiara Diocese showing that he had been duly invited to the occasion as a condition for providing him the required security. Since he did not have such a letter he started looking for a way out. It seems that after being turned down by the Abuja security officials the bishop-elect reached out to the Nuncio and the metropolitan and informed them of the demand of the Abuja security officials. And that would result in both the Nuncio and the metropolitan mounting excessive pressures on the administrator to send a letter of information to the bishop-elect concerning his ordination date.

On his part, the administrator was at a loss on why such a demand was being made on him, especially as the bishop-elect had been present at the meeting when the ordination date was scheduled. But little did he know that there was a sinister move to get him to authorize the use of force against his own people.

Notwithstanding all that, the administrator was inclined to sending such a letter as some of us who did not know the subtle issues involved had believed that it did not mean much to send a document like that. The sinister manoeuvres to get the administrator to sign a letter that would be used against the Catholic faithful of Ahiara Diocese in their resistance against the bishopric of Msgr. Okpalaeke would demonstrate to everybody in Ahiara Diocese how desperate the Okpalaeke group was and how they would be willing to employ all dirty tactics to try to impose the bishop-elect on the people of Ahiara Diocese.

The true situation was if there had been no disagreement on whether the administrator should send such a letter or not, the administrator would have decided in favour of sending the letter to Msgr. Okpalaeke who in turn would have used the same letter to procure some scores of military and police officers from the federal government and use them to invade Ahiara Diocese to effect his ordination.

When some us who had been soft-pedalling and advocating for moderation in the whole struggle realized that deceit and insincerity had become a weapon to get the bishop-elect ordained in Ahiara Diocese, we gave up hope of any amicable resolution of the crisis. It would dawn on us that there was little or no spirituality in the efforts to get Msgr. Okpalaeke ordained the bishop of Ahiara Diocese. Just as it was being said of his appointment as a bishop, the bishop-elect appeared ready to apply some dirty tricks and even violence to get ordained a bishop for the people of Mbaise. This realization became in fact the last straw that would break the Camel’s back in the bishopric crisis in Ahiara Diocese.

When the information on what had transpired in Abuja between the bishop-elect and the security officials reached Ahiara Diocese, many priests of the diocese stormed the office of the administrator and prevailed on him not to send out any letter of information to Msgr. Okpalaeke. That was how the efforts of the bishop-elect in that regard would be squelched. For the first time, the bishop-elect and the bigwigs of Awka would suffer their first defeat in a face-to-face combat with the people of Mbaise.

However, that information on the efforts of the bishop-elect with the security officials in Abuja could get to Ahiara Diocese in real time showed how powerful the efforts of the different arms of the struggle were working in Ahiara Diocese. Two groups of Mbaise citizens were helping the struggle along the line of relating to the Nigerian security agencies. The role of these individuals was to help the security officials in Abuja get a clearer picture of the security situation in Mbaise and what an attempt to ordain Msgr. Okpalaeke by force might portend for law and order in the place.

First among these individuals was a very patriotic high official of Mbaise in the police force who was making sure that the police high commands in Owerri and Abuja knew full well of the level of insecurity in Mbaise as a result of the bishopric crisis. He consistently fed the police high commands facts and figures about the high potential for a violent outbreak if force was involved in the efforts to ordain an unpopular bishop for Ahiara Diocese. Second were the activities of the members of Ezuru Ezu Mbaise who were contacting many politicians and government officials about a possible outbreak of violence during any attempt to ordain Okpalaeke for Ahiara Diocese. All these forces complemented the great efforts of Mbaise politicians in Abuja who employed their contacts to make sure there would be no plans to introduce force in the ordination of the bishop.

Having been torpedoed in his efforts to secure Abuja security operatives to help him get ordained in Ahiara Diocese, it appeared that the bishop-elect in his determination to employ any means available to realize his mandate sought for other methods. It would be revealed to the Caucus that the bishop-elect and his Awka backers were reviewing the possibility of employing the strategy that had been used to successfully install Archbishop Augustine Akubueze in Benin City Catholic Cathedral in 2011. According to the people who had briefed the Caucus on the matter, the method the bishops of Nigeria had used to break the resistance of some Catholic faithful in Benin was to employ the services of Governor Peter Obi, the then governor of Anambra State and a staunch Catholic who was always around Catholic events in Nigeria.

On that day of the installation, the governor was said to have brought out his large security convoy and put the archbishop-elect beside him in his own car for the journey. The governor’s convoy had broken through the barriers set up by the people of Benin and delivered the archbishop-elect safe in the Benin City Catholic Cathedral for the ceremony to begin. According to those who briefed the Caucus, this would become how the new archbishop was installed in Benin City. It was the collaboration between the bishops of Nigeria and some Catholic governors and security officials that would make it possible.

After hearing this briefing, an alarm went off in the minds and hearts of the members of the Caucus. It was decided that a contingency plan would have to be put in place as quickly as possible to disrupt this plan. First, there was an agreement that the priests and some key lay faithful of the diocese would have to visit Governor Rochas Anayo Okorocha of Imo State, and plead with him to use his influence to dissuade the governor of Anambra State, Governor Peter Obi, from interfering in Church affairs in Ahiara Diocese which was outside his state. It was generally agreed that Gov. Obi would have to be sternly warned that if he insisted on interfering in the affairs of Ahiara Diocese and tried to bring the bishop-elect to Ahiara Diocese on the day of the said ordination, he would be mercilessly attacked and would have only himself to blame for whatever would result from such an encounter.

Second, it was decided that some great reinforcements would have to be put in place both at the gates to the secretariat and the doors of the Cathedral so as to make it very difficult for any convoy, military or police, to break through and enter the Cathedral compound. All this would complement the human shield that would be formed at the Cathedral gate on that day by both priests and the lay faithful. It was agreed that on that day, all lay faithful in the diocese would turn out en masse in black attire and form a human shield blocking the gate to the Cathedral compound. Their weapon, it was agreed upon, would be praying the rosary and singing sorrowful songs.

While some priests and lay faithful would suggest the locking up of both the secretariat and the Cathedral gates completely and relocating the inhabitants of the place all through the period the battle would be on, others suggested something with greater physical strength such as blocking the cathedral gates with trailer loads of stones. Some even suggested that some tipper trucks be rented and used to block the gates completely especially on the day of the ordination. There would be lots of suggestions on how to make the cathedral compound impenetrable on the day of the purported ordination of Msgr. Okpalaeke. However, the representatives of the members of Ezuru Ezu Mbaise on the committee kept reassuring that they would be able to find a solution that would frustrate any effort by any force whatsoever to forcefully enter the cathedral on May 21, for the ordination of Msgr. Okpalaeke.

But a great help to the cause of disrupting the plans of the Okpalaeke group to employ the convoy of Governor Peter Obi to break through to the cathedral on May 21 would come from far away USA when one Professor John Michael Adinuso would publish the so-called strategy of Msgr. Okpalaeke and his Awka group on the internet via the email list of Professor Anthony Nwachukwu. In an article entitled; “Evolving Strategies of the Awka Gang” the professor wrote and I quote the document in its entirety with the permission of Professor Anthony Nwachukwu:

Our valiant brothers and sisters from Mbaise, have you heard the latest on the ever-changing strategies and tactics of the criminal gang from Awka? They are so desperate to steal the bishopric of Ahiara Diocese that they are ever changing their strategies and tactics. We must keep one step ahead of them. Here is the latest gist. Having realized that coming to Mbaise on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, to ordain and install the rejected bishop-elect Okpalaeke would most certainly be repelled by the Mbaise people, the Awka gang went to Abuja recently and applied to have a massive police and military presence take over the whole of Mbaise a few days before and after the planned ordination.

Fortunately, the authorities in Abuja asked that a letter of invitation for the planned ordination and installation from the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara be tendered in evidence in order for them to start considering their application. But they had none of that. Exercising their criminal mind, they reached out to their puppet and agent, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Augustine Kasujja, and their new-found ally in the plot, Cardinal Onaiyekan of Abuja, who started pressurizing Msgr. Theo Nwalo to send to the so-called bishop-elect an invitation or an information about his so-called ordination on May 21, 2013. Some notable Ahiara Diocesan priests without knowing the evil machination of the Awka gang did not see any real or potential problems if Msgr. Nwalo chose to give such a letter.

But then a tip came that if such a letter was given, the Awka criminal gang would misuse it in Abuja to apply for a powerful contingent of the police and the military to come and invade Mbaise on May 21. When the alarm was raised, the full force of priests from Ahiara Diocese stormed Msgr. Nwalo’s office and prevailed upon him not give such a letter. Msgr. Nwalo obliged and the situation was saved. Every Mbaise citizen should see how desperate Okpalaeke and his collaborators are. They are using all criminal tactics to try to achieve their hopeless intention. We should not allow them to make any headway in their effort to steal the bishopric of Ahiara Diocese.

Since their earlier effort has failed woefully, the Awka gang has embarked on adopting a new strategy. Their latest strategy revolves around the use of Governor Peter Obi’s convoy. It has come to the notice of Ahiara priests and lay people that what Okpalaeke and his group are planning to do on that day of his so-called ordination is the so-called bishop-elect to sit with Gov Peter Obi in his police convoy. They would use the governor’s convoy to storm Ahiara Diocese and get the so-called bishop-elect safe into Ahiara Diocesan Cathedral where they believe he will eventually be ordained. This strategy was used quite effectively in Benin City during the installation of Archbishop Akubueze. It is being alleged that the defences planned by those in Benin City during the installation of Akubueze could have worked if not for the use of Governor Peter Obi’s convoy. They are planning a repeat of that strategy.

The desperate Awka gang is planning to turn Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State into an accessory for crimes against Ndi Mbaise. They will not succeed. Mbaise people are by far wiser than Benin people. Whatever worked for them in Benin will never work for them in Mbaise. We will match them force for force. That is the latest from Mbaise caucus and leadership meetings. And if they try any nonsense, they will pay dearly for it. If you love Anambra State criminal money bags, or are friends with some of them, warn them to desist from this nonsense. If they misbehave in Mbaise they will become history.

We suggest that all Mbaise citizens everywhere call on Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to stay clear of the problem in Ahiara Diocese. He should be sensible enough to know that Mbaise will be a different ball game than Benin. If he makes a mistake in this regard, he will regret it forever. Governor Peter Obi should know that Mbaise is not Benin. Mbaise is not Awka where he dominates like a lion king. It is Mbaise, a place like no other in Nigeria. Mbaise is Igbo proper. And Igbo Mbaise does not respect any king or governor or ruler who is supporting injustice. If Gov Obi chooses the way of injustice, he will pay for it in Mbaise.

Mbaise people are notorious for daring the devil. If Gov Obi is coming to Mbaise with his convey loaded with military and police forces to escort the rejected bishop-elect into Ahiara Cathedral on May 21, he will get the rudest shock of his life. If the governor paves the way for the police and the army to commit murder in Mbaise, he will pay for it in every way Mbaise people deem fit. Please, Mbaise patriots, tell the governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi to stay clear of the crisis in Ahiara Diocese.

Mbaise patriots, call the president of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okoroacho to advise the Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi to stay at home on May 21, with his police convoy. He will be harassed and beaten up in Mbaise if he ventures into the place to intimidate people with his sirens and armoured cars. Mbaise people will not be afraid of him. Let him give peace a chance. All Mbaise people are asking for is justice to Anambra State people and Justice to Imo people, justice to Awka and Justice to Mbaise. If Gov. Obi ventures to use the overwhelming state power to support injustice, he will be beaten back. President Goodluck Jonathan and Gov Rochas Okorocha, please, in the interest of peace and order in Imo State, tell Gov Peter Obi not to cause problems in Mbaise on May 21. There is no way he could come there to intimidate people without being challenged. Mbaise will match force with force. Whatever it will take to defeat him and his Awka gang, Mbaise will do it. To be forewarned is to be forearmed!

Governor Peter Obi, please govern your richly endowed state of Anambra and leave Imo State alone. Do not embarrass yourself by getting involved with Okpalaeke case. It will destroy you and your legacy. Ask your brother, His Eminence, what has happened to his legacy in Igboland. He dabbled into promoting his cronies into the bishoprics of Igbo Church and today his legacy is history. Nobody will remember the only cardinal the Igbo church has ever had without remembering his atrocities and his despicable cronyism in the Igbo Church. The same fate awaits everybody who supports the injustice against the Mbaise people. Anybody that supports this injustice will be consumed by it. Gov Obi, stay clear. A word is enough for the wise.

Thank you.