Catholics in Ahiara Mbaise in Imo State, South-East Nigeria, may pay dearly for their rebellion as manifested in the continued opposition to the appointment of Monsignor Peter Okpaleke as the Bishop of Ahiara Catholic Diocese.

Information reaching News Express has it that the leadership of the Catholic Church at both the Nigerian and global levels has run out of patience with Ahiara Catholics and has decided to wield the big stick.

For one, the Church hierarchy has ruled out a change of mind on Monsignor Okpaleke’s appointment and has decided to move the venue of his installation from Mbaise following threats by the dissidents to use force to abort the installation scheduled for today.

The crime of Monsignor Okpaleke, who was chosen last December 7 by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to replace, the late Bishop Victor Chikwe, is that he is not from Mbaise. Reverend Father Okpaleke hails from neighbouring Anambra State and all efforts by the national and universal Catholic leadership to get the Ahiara Diocese to accept him have failed as the people, egged on by some Mbaise priests, religious and laity and traditional ruler, have continued to vehemently reject him.

According to Mr. Uche Ezechukwu, a seasoned journalist and well-connected Catholic, “Acting on intelligence reports that Mbaise people might go to a ‘Boko Haram extent’, the Episcopal installation for Monsignor Peter Okpaleke as the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese has been moved away from Mbaise. The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), in agreement with the Vatican through the papal envoy in Nigeria, the Uganda-born Archbishop Ussiju, has moved the installation to the Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, Owerri for 10:00 a.m.”

“The CBCN,” according to Ezechukwu, reportedly “rejected the government option to provide adequate security to enable the Church push through its installation programme at Ahiara.”
Reporting on bigger consequences ahead for Ahiara Diocese, Ezechukwu said: “There are suggestions that the new Bishop Okpaleke would stay on at Owerri for a short time and act as the Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Obinna, until Rome perfects the plans that it is already mulling. Some of these plans might include the closure of Ahiara diocese and merging it back with Owerri Archdiocese, yet-to-the determined punishment for some of the priests and religious leaders. Then, it is said that the Church might create a new Ekwulobia Diocese in Anambra State and make Okpaleke its first bishop.”

•Photo shows Monsignor Peter Okpaleke, incoming Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.

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