By RAPHAEL EDE, OWERRI – Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state on Tuesday said the killings of worshippers at St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State was a direct attack on God.
Speaking through a press release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemedo, when the representative of the Pope to Togo and Benin Republic, His Grace, Most Rev. Brain Udaigwe, paid him visit at the Government House, Owerri, the governor was quoted as saying: “Those who carried out the attack on worshippers at Ozubulu Catholic Church in Anambra State had directly attacked God although the gunmen had succeeded in killing and wounding some people in the attack.
“We have heard about the Ozubulu killing in the Catholic Church. It is a matter that has taken a different criminal dimension and never experienced in our recent time. The governor of Anambra State has told me that there is a clue to who committed the crime and I have suggested that the culprit should be immediately brought to book without further delay and make to pay for what he has done.
“The bastardly act is not only sacrilegious but a direct attack to God. Killing people in the house of God, we condemn it and we ask that the perpetrator should be brought to book and the law should take its full course on the persons who must have done this.”
Calling on the Pope to take decisive action on the issue of Ahiara diocese crisis in the state, Okorocha said: “The issue of Ahiara is of great concern to Imo people. There is no better person to communicate to the Pope than you. I have been to Ahiara on several occasions preaching the gospel of peace. The matter in Ahiara has gotten to the point of ego and egoism, and this is the time for the Pope to take the rightful decision and restore peace in the area. I know what is wrong but this is not the time to discuss who is wrong or what is wrong in order to save the Christians in that part of the world.
“I have argued and maintained that the respectability of the Catholic Church lies on the Pope. The Pope remains the only pivot upon which the Catholic Church rotates, His word therefore is sacrosanct and un-challengeable because that is the rock upon which our faith is cast.
“We have advised that the people heed to the word of the Pope and never go contrary to the directive of the Pope. I appeal that this issue be resolved as quickly as possible in a manner that will suggest no victor, no vanquish because it has drawn the attention of the world to the State.”
