governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the powerful Archbishop of Owerri
Catholic Archdiocese, Anthony Obinna, has, manifested at the weekend
as the re-elected governor who took oath of office for another tenure
abandoned the Owerri Archdiocese, domain of Archbishop Obinna, to hold
his thanksgiving service at Orlu Diocese.
As part of his inauguration programme after being sworn in for second
term, Okorocha marked a thanksgiving service at the Holy Trinity
Cathedral, Orlu, in Orlu Catholic Diocese.
The exercise which surprised people of the state was in sharp contrast
to his earlier programmes where the state governor undertook several
church services including his first thanksgiving service in 2011 at
the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri.
In a rather surprise move, Okorocha jettisoned Owerri where he had
been having religious observations since he became governor for Orlu.
Trumpeta learnt that the governor's action might not be unconnected
with the seeming cold war between the governor and the fiery cleric
after the romantic relationship at the early stages of Okorocha's
administration.
After playing prominent roles that brought Okorocha into power in
2011, rancorous relationship stepped in with minor face-off between
the Catholic Church in Owerri Archdiocese and the governor. Apart from
the verbal lashes Archbishop Obinna extended to Okorocha during one of
the Christ the King celebrations in Owerri, the recently held
controversial governorship debate to herald the 2015 guber elections
held at Obiri Odenigbo, Assumpta Villa, Owerri further increased the
bickering even as the Okorocha government complained over the
editorial style of "The Leader Newspaper", operated by Obinna's Owerri
Archdiocese.
Having braced the odds to win for a second tenure, Okorocha may have
turned his back on Archbishop Obinna by failing to hold the
thanksgiving service in Assumpta.
Irrespective of the fact that Okorocha poached Archbishop Obinna's
elder brother Paddy Obinna as one of his appointees, a frosty
relationship still exists between the two persons.
Speaking at the event, Okorocha revealed that there is no failure in
his dictionary and his pattern of administration, adding that the next
four years which will elapse in 2019 will be superb and unique
pointing out that there will be lots of merriment and recognition for
those who merit it.
He further disclosed that at the commencement of the Imo Rescue
Mission administration on 2011, he promised the elimination of
kidnapping, insecurity, boasting that as it stands today, such vices
are things of the past which he promised to uphold till the completion
of his second term in office, with consolidation of his unfinished
projects.
Owelle Okorocha assured the clergymen and Imolites of a proud
governance which will embrace everybody so as to meet up to the
standard of making Imo State the envy of other states in the country.
He solicited for their prayers as he takes up the mantle of leadership
of Imo State for a second term.
However, Governor Okorocha made a donation of one hundred million
naira (N100,000,000) on behalf of the state government to Orlu
Cathedral for the roof renovation, while his supporters, Senator
Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, Chief Chidi Felix Idiga, Chief Jerry
Chukwueke, Senator Osita Izunaso and other APC appointees made a
donation of forty-five million, six hundred and seventy thousand naira
(N45,670,000) to the church.
Highlight of the civic reception celebrated by the two Bishops of Orlu
Diocese, Bishop Augustine J. Ukwuoma and Bishop Emeritus Gregory
Ochiagha with priests conferred a title of "Nnaoma di Ebube" to the
governor and Her Excellency, Nkechi Okorocha as "Nneoma".
The Chief Celebrant, Bishop Ukwuoma thanked God for a successful
electioneering period in Imo and Nigeria, describing it as handwork of
God to elect the right leaders. He prayed for God's wisdom on Okorocha
so as to lead in the order of Solomon in the bible, advising the state
governor not to see his political opponents as personal enemies and to
have a listening ear in order to do better in his second term.
—Trumpeta
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