Okorocha Sues for Peace Over Ahiara Catholic Diocese Crisis

OWERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State yesterday called on all the interested parties in the Ahiara Catholic Diocese dispute to pursue peace, ensure peace and maintain peace and work towards the amicable resolution of whatever was the cause of the dispute.
The governor in a statement through Sam Onwuemeodo, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, recalled that since the crisis at the Ahiara Mbaise Diocese of Catholic Church began following the nomination of a new Bishop for the Diocese by authorities of the Church, the Imo State government had neither said anything nor taken any action with regard to the unfortunate development in the Diocese.
Okorocha said: “The state government had taken that position because one of the most respected denominations, the Catholic Church is involved, and with the belief that the parties involved in the dispute would appreciate the need to amicably resolve whatever has been the cause of the problem. To say the least, the State Government had expected all the parties, including the priests involved in the crisis to be good ambassadors of Christ by embracing peace and eschewing bitterness. But the crisis has lingered to the disappointment of the State Government and all patriotic citizens of the State. It has also got to the extent that the opposing parties, including the priests involved in the dispute now employ the services of armed thugs, without being conscious of what they represent.
“Just last week ,an incident still in connection with the crisis in question took place at St. Brigid Catholic Parish Ahiara in which the warring priests involved employed the services of heavily armed thugs who stormed the parish and attacked people. And one of the priests had his vehicle smashed. As a people-oriented government that believes that the citizenry should fully exercise their freedom, we want to continue to appeal for calm on the parts of both the clergy and the laity in the Diocese, including those involved in the crisis, since all those involved in the dispute are all Mbaise people known for their unity and hard work.”