Governor Rochas Okorocha has again come under fire as a fiery Catholic cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has accused him of giving a N50 million dud cheque to the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J.V. Obinna.
Mbaka told the congregation that Okorocha allegedly gave the dud cheque when the Archbishop wanted to re-roof Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, that was leaking a the time.
“A lot of funny things are happening in Imo State now. Workers are sacked with impunity. Governor Okorocha gave the Archbishop a N50 million cheque that bounced and this is supposed to be a Catholic”, Rev. Fr. Mbaka said.
He recalled with grief how Catholics and all Christians rose with anger when a story rented the air that Chief Ikedi Ohakim flogged a Catholic priest.
“I recall vividly that not long after I released a song to that effect, I invited the priest at the centre of the alleged beating, Rev. Fr. Eustace Okorie, and sought to know he truth from him. He denied that Ohakim flogged him and since this is the true position, I must also tell the world that Ohakim never dehumanized a priest”, Mbaka said.
Reacting to the allegation, Governor Okorocha’s media aide, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo said Imo State Government never gave Archbishop Obinna N50 million dud cheque.
“Let us simply aver and solemnly too, that the claim is not only false, but spurious and curious in many respects. There is no iota of truth in the wild allegation. You can call it an unholy blackmail, taking into account the person behind it”, Onwuemeodo said.
He challenged Rev. Fr. Mbaka to go beyond his claim and provide the proofs since cheques are not invisible objects, adding that “since the false claim on the N50m dud cheque didn’t come from the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese or from any of the priests in the Archdiocese, it becomes reasonable for us to make do with our candid denial”.
Onwuemeodo further stated that with this latest blackmail, Nigerians of goodwill would now begin to appreciate the orchestrated and politically motivated lies being unleashed against Governor Rochas Okorocha’s government by those vividly desperate to take over power from him in 2015.
“Fr. Mbaka is not a priest in Imo State, talk more being a clergy in the Owerri Archdiocese of the Catholic Church where highly respected and a very decent priest, Archbishop Obinna superintends. You then ask yourself what is the interest of Rev. Fr. Mbaka”, Onwuemeodo said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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dat mbaka of a man. Hmmm. Let him face his parish n state. Always fighting political personel. If at all dis news is true.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Fr.Mbaka's interest in this case. He is supposed to face his clerical duties squarely not going so did into politics cos in as much catholic priest can be political, they are not expected or allowed to be politicians. So, he should know his boundaries.
ReplyDeleteWhy should a church even collect N50 Million from a politician without asking him/her where the money is coming from. or are we saying it is okay for governors and co to steal money from the treasury?
ReplyDeleteGood talk,that's the first relevant question I expected. A good Christian is expected to reject anything unholy. If a politician presents a gift,common sense should first request to know if that gift came from a clean source. If the governor approves that the state should refurbish the Church from state funds,it may be acceptable,but if he donates an exaggerated sum from his personal cuffers,and it is established that he cannot under normal circumstances afford to have given this gift,then in this case I think the person of the governor, if he actually declared publicly his assets before ascending his office and his declaration shows he is worth more than that sum,then no evil has been done. The issue is,the normative functions of the Church must be justified.
DeleteRev Mbaka has nothing to loose or gain in this matter, he's only telling the TRUTH. That Gov.is capable of anything, I mean anything given d kind of things his people are saying about him.
ReplyDeleteClearing Ohakim's name is coming too late though, I've always wondered if he was too power drunk to met out such awful crime on an anointed man of God. That state does not need both guys anyways.. Imo n Abia need to produce someone that has the interest of the people at heart n not persons that will come to use the state to build their own dynasty. #greed..#familybusiness.
What we need in all d states are men that will work like Donald Duke did in his own time. #goodlegacy.
The dud cheque case is so true! Don't ask me how I know.....
Add this to the incident last June in Oguta with Charly-Boy on Gov Rochas Okorocha's N20m alleged donation toward the burial of Justice Oputa, you will begin to see a pattern in these donations. I do not see the obligation to donate, and to do so when you do not have or do it with what is not yours, or without following due process with public funds. Transient accolade will always give way to the truth and the effect will not be transient but long-lasting.
ReplyDelete