A group of concerned Christians and Non Christian Citizens of Anambra
state led by Ernest Anafonye and Onyedika Nwosu yesterday 06/11/2018, led a
peaceful protest march to the office of Anambra state commissioner of police to
point out their grievances against Bishop Owen Nwokolo, the Bishop on the
Niger, Anglican communion.
In a
press statement made available to newsmen at Nigeria Police Headquarters
Awka yesterday, they stated that "we have come to bring to the
attention of the commissioner of police Anambra state the activities if Bishop
Owen Nwokolo, aimed at misleading the public, casting aspersion, peddling false
rumour, blackmailing and engaging in campaign of calumny against the governor
of Anambra state"
The
leader of the group went further to state that, Bishop Owen Nwokolo
deliberately, with the intention to incite the public, against the governor has
taken to both traditional and social media to spread false rumours, claiming
that Governor Willie Obiano is marginalizing members of the Anglican Church in
Anambra state.
He
emphasized that, "Bishop Owen Nwokolo in his unquenchable desire for
land grabbing and unsearchable wants for possessions hiding under the guise of
priesthood has continued to trespass on government land and properties only to
turn around and resort to emotional blackmail whenever caught in the act"
Continuing,
he said that the group is aware that the unnecessary controversy started by
Bishop Owen Nwokolo and orchestrated by his wife has everything to do with the
inability of their preferred aspirants to clinch tickets for various positions
in the just concluded primary elections of the All Progressive Grand
Alliance(APGA) for the 2019 general election.
The
leader of the group further expressed their disappointment, that a supposed man
of God would be fanning the embers of war in a peaceful state as Anambra state,
just for selfish reasons.
The
group lamented that the Bishop on the Niger, in spending time and resources on
inciting the Anglican congregation and the public against Governor Willie
Obiano, the government of Anambra state and even the Catholic Church, is
capable of instigating religious wars in Anambra state.
The
group however stressed that Anambra state is very peaceful, safe and secured,
and that they won't want a return to armed robbery and kidnapping in the state,
because as a people, though with diverse religions inclunatiins and belief are
at peace with one another in the state and do not wish to experience religious
wars because of selfish interest of one man and his insatiable wife.
They
concluded by asking the commissioner of police, Umar Garba to call Bishop Owen
Nwokolo to order, whom they said, his activities is unbecoming of a priest, to
avoid any religious war, breech of peace, crisis and breakdown of law and order
in the state.
In
reacting to their protest and submissions, CP Umar Garba, said he has heard all
they said and promised that the police will look at it and work on it. The CP,
promised to take necessary actions where need be to forestall the breakdown of
law and order in the state.
The
commissioner of police however enjoined them to maintain peace as Anambra state
under his watch will continue to be peaceful. He however stressed that Anambra
state Police Command is not unmindful of the imbroglio between the Bishop and
the state government, in respect of a land in Onitsha, which Anambra state
government and the Anglican Church claim ownership of. He stressed that the
police in the state has been managing the issue and have had series of meetings
with parties involved in the dispute.
The CP,
however advised that any party among the two that feels aggrieved should go to
court, as it is only the court that will determine the ownership of the
property,as the court has final adjudication on the issue.
He
maintained that the Nigeria Police Force is neutral in this matter and so it
shall be as land matters is not the purview of their jurisdiction. He therefore
advised the protesters to avoid being used and warned that anybody who
attempts or tries to cause breach of public peace, will face the full wrath of
the law. He assured them that he will look into the matter, investigate it and
get back to them, the outcome.
House of Bishops, Clergy and Laity of Province on the Niger Reacts.
In
another development, raising from a meeting at All Saints Cathedral Onitsha the
house of Bishops comprising of Most Rev Prof G.I.N Okpala,Bishop of Nnewi
Diocese, Rt Rev Henry Okeke,Bishop of Mbamili Diocese, Rt Rev Alex Ibezim
PhD,Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt Rev Johnson Ekwe,Bishop of Niger west Diocese,
Rt Rev Prof Israel Okoye,Bishop of Ihiala Diocese, Rt Rev Prosper Amah,Bishop
of Ogbaru Diocese,Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, Bishop on the Niger Diocese and
representatives of the bishops of the diocese of Aguata and Amichi
respectively, adopted a resolution which was signed by Arch Bishop, Prof G.I.N
Okpala, and made available to newsmen in Onitsha which stated that, the
demonstration that happened at Awka which was basically against Bishop Owen
Nwokolo, the Anglican Bishop on the Niger,is not by Anglicans, but by
hirelings, who called themselves concerned Christians and non Christian
citizens of Anambra state, coordinated by Ernest Anafonye and Onyedika Nwosu
as their secretary who are bent on tarnishing the image of the Anglican Church,
Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo and the diocese on the Niger, who are the rightful owner
of the land at Nkisi road GRA Onitsha, where Bishop Crowther Memorial primary
school has been since 1926 with a duly registered document since 1927.
They
went further to state that the publication on the sunday sun newspapers of 4th
November 2018,authored by Rev Zachaeus Iloegbuna who used a pen name is not a
priest of the Anglican communion, and information therein are all false, so
also the publication on sun newspaper of 6th November 2018, authored by
Akajiofor is equally unfounded, false and baseless. They resolved that the
church missionary society duly ensured that the school became a local authority
school for the purpose of aid and grant whilst the ownership of the school and
land remained the property of the diocese on the Niger.
They
further recounted that since 1956, Bishop Crowther Memorial school,Nkisi road
Onitsha was founded as a local authority school by the application of the
diocese on the Niger, and that in 2012, the report of the state committee on
resolution of the disputes over the ownership of certain primary schools before
the takeover of schools by the government of the then east central state in
1970, was reviewed by His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi under the chairmanship of
Hon Justice G U Ononiba, which stated clearly that the school is an Anglican
school and should be handed over to the Anglican church, which is the diocese on
the Niger, and that up till this moment has not been implemented despite the
recommendation of the committee, as all efforts to that effect has proved
abortive.
They
therefore on government of Anambra state to as a matter of urgency hand over
the school to the diocese on the Niger to manage, control and administer as
ownership of the land which commenced in 1926 should be honored as certified
true copies as supporting documents are available for the world to see.