The tension between the Governor Okorocha administration and the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has refused to abate with each side digging in on their positions. As the drama continues, Assistant Editor, CHINWE MADUAGWU looks at the implications for the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the general elections approach.
The die as they say is cast. Two elephants are on the war path and this time rather than suffer, the grass might actually win. In fact, in this fight, the grass as it were is actively rooting for it hoping, praying and believing that at the end it shall be liberated from subjugation and bondage.
Yes the Catholic Church and the Governor of Imo State are at it again. From all indications, it is a repeat of the drama that played out during the administration of Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, which many believe led to his failure to get a second term in office. Although Governor Rochas Okorocha is about to conclude a second term in office, unlike his predecessor, he is plotting to choose a successor in what appears to be against the wish of the people.
Trouble began early in the month of March at the burial of the mother of Prince Alex Mbata, Pro Chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU). The Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, The Most Revd. Anthony Obinna called on the people of the state to resist any plans by Okorocha to install his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who is also his Chief of Staff, as his successor. He accused the governor of bringing untold hardship on the people of the state whom he called on to ensure they register and pick up their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them participate in the 2019 elections.
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These comments made in the presence of the governor’s wife and son-in-law angered supporters of APC and the government who hurled insults and abuses on the priest and almost manhandled him. The ripple effect of the incident has been a back and forth between the governor and the Catholic Archdiocese.
While the liaison officer and special adviser to the governor on electoral matters, Edward Ihejirika and Steve Asinobi, respectively, addressed a press conference accusing the Archbishop of “blackmail” and “intimidation,” warning that the Okorocha administration would not handle him with kid gloves as was done by the Ohakim government, the Catholic Archdiocese on its part interpreted the government’s position as a threat saying that it would hold the government responsible if anything happened to the Archbishop.
The Catholic Archdiocese also insisted that it would not keep quiet out of fear of intimidation from the state government. As the 2019 elections approaches and given the challenges already facing the APC and Okorocha in the state, what does this added battle portend for the party?
The Next Edition sampled some opinions. Dr. Marius Ibe, does not think the fracas will affect next year’s elections because in his view the Catholic Church is no longer as powerful as it used to be. His words: “The opinion of the Catholic Church in Imo politics is no longer sacrosanct. Its credibility has been seriously shaken by what happened with Ohakim. You recall that Fr. Mbaka exonerated Ohakim of that accusation. When this happened, it gave room for other opinion holders to rise.”
Acknowledging that the Catholic Church still has a say in what happens, he, however, believes that “the ears that will listen to her have diminished.” Ibe spoke further: “Don’t forget that the Church ‘endorsed’ Rochas. With the level of hunger in that land, I’m not sure people are hearing not to talk of listening to reason or the Church. For me, I would prefer the church to play a more silent role in these matters.
“Rochas and the APC have not done well. His sins are many and the altercation with the church is just another of his many sins. It will add to his woes but not like how it affected Ohakim,” he said.
For Ms. Oge Dixon, a business woman, Okorocha and the APC are headed the way of Ohakim. “The face-off between Okorocha and the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri is actually unfortunate and also a case of a child who has refused to learn from history. No individual can fight God (in this case represented by the head of the church).
“Okorocha claims to be a Catholic, yet he disrespects the authority of his faith. Secondly, did he forget that as a political party, APC, would need the votes of the public of which adherents of the Catholic faith are members? Naturally, the APC as a party can kiss government of Imo State goodbye. No sane person will vote for them. So, I clearly see a repeat of Ohakim’s fate for them in 2019.”
Mr. Buchi Njere, a Marketing Communications Consultant, thinks Okorocha is taking on one battle too many thereby dragging the APC on a dangerous road. “Rochas Okorocha is like the proverbial fly that follows the corpse to the grave. He seems lost to reason and decency.” One battle he cannot win is with the Roman Catholic community. Bishop Obinna, to many, represents a moral high ground that Okorocha can never aspire to. And the Bishop and Catholic Church enjoy large followership that can determine who becomes governor of Imo State,” he said.
He was also of the opinion that the governor is dragging his party on “a slippery slope,” adding: “it is a huge burden no party would want to drag into a major election. But they have a choice: take over what remains of the party in Imo State or go into oblivion, a path Okorocha seems doomed to go.”
In his own contribution, Mr. Stanley Nkwazema, a Media practitioner said Okorocha was biting more than he can chew. Hear him: “It is not always easy to confront the church, in this case the Catholic and come out victorious. The church is the people and the people the church. “In Nigeria, particularly the South East, the Catholic Church constitutes a large number of the voting public. In the hierarchy of the church particularly the Catholic and Anglican Communion, the Archbishop is the most senior in the state. So, Okorocha is not only facing the Owerri Catholic community but the entire state.”
Nkwazema further argued that “it will be seen as beggarly belief if Okorocha thinks he can muscle or bamboozle his way out by installing his stooge, in this case, his son-in-law as the APC candidate. It will surely work against him and the party. The members of the party will not support it.”
George Bernard Shaw, it was, who said: “We are made wise not by the recollection of our past but by the responsibility for our future.” To some extent the future of the APC in Imo State lies in Okorocha’s hands. Would he be wise enough to put the party’s interest over and above his personal interest, sheath his sword and make peace with the Catholic faithfuls in Imo State or would he continue on his journey to perdition? Would the party allow him? Only time will tell.
In all these, however, the people of Owerri are praying that Okorocha and his supporters should listen because as one of them put it, “anything that will aid Okorocha’s disgrace and downfall, together with his supporters is welcome.”
