I read this article on the net and I think It is time for the entire Catholic Faithfuls in Nigeria to speak-up against the activities of some members of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara who are being misled by some disgruntled religious leaders:

"CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF NIGERIA DECLARE WAR ON MBAISE
Latest on the Ahiara Diocese Saga. By Prof John Michael Adinuso

Our valiant brothers and sisters from Mbaise, have you heard the latest on
the ever-changing strategies and tactics of the criminal gang from Awka?
They are so desperate to steal the bishopric of Ahiara Diocese that they are
ever changing their strategies and tactics. We must keep one step ahead of
them. Here is the latest gist. Having realized that coming to Mbaise on
Tuesday, May 21, 2013, to ordain and install the rejected bishop-elect
Okpalaeke would most certainly be repelled by the Mbaise people, the Awka
gang went to Abuja recently and applied to have a massive police and
military presence take over the whole of Mbaise a few days before and after
the planned ordination.
Fortunately, the authorities in Abuja asked that a letter of invitation for
the planned ordination and installation from the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara
be tendered in evidence in order for them to start considering their
application. But they had none of that. Exercising their criminal mind, they
reached out to their puppet and agent, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria,
Augustine Kasujja, and their new-found ally in the plot, Cardinal Onaiyekan
of Abuja, who started pressurizing Msgr. Theo Nwalo to send to the so-called
bishop-elect an invitation or an information about his so-called ordination
on May 21, 2013. Some notable Ahiara Diocesan priests without knowing the
evil machination of the Awka gang did not see any real or potential problems
if Msgr. Nwalo chose to give such a letter.
But then a tip came that if such a letter was given, the Awka criminal gang
would misuse it in Abuja to apply for a powerful contingent of the police
and the military to come and invade Mbaise on May 21. When the alarm was
raised, the full force of priests from Ahiara Diocese stormed Msgr. Nwalo's
office and prevailed upon him not give such a letter. Msgr. Nwalo obliged
and the situation was saved. Every Mbaise citizen should see how desperate
Okpalaeke and his collaborators are. They are using all criminal tactics to
try to achieve their hopeless intention. We should not allow them to make
any headway in their effort to steal the bishopric of Ahiara Diocese.
Since their earlier effort has failed woefully, the Awka gang has embarked
on adopting a new strategy. Their latest strategy revolves around the use of
Governor Peter Obi's convoy. It has come to the notice of Ahiara priests and
lay people that what Okpalaeke and his group are planning to do on that day
of his so-called ordination is the so-called bishop-elect to sit with Gov
Peter Obi is his police convoy. They would use the governor's convoy to
storm Ahiara Diocese and get the so-called bishop-elect safe into Ahiara
Diocesan Cathedral where they believe he will eventually be ordained. This
strategy was used quite effectively in Benin City during the installation of
Archbishop Akubueze. It is being alleged that the defences planned by those
in Benin City during the installation of Akubueze could have worked if not
for the use of Governor Peter Obi's convoy. They are planning a repeat of
that strategy.
The desperate Awka gang is planning to turn Governor Peter Obi of Anambra
State into an accessory for crimes against Ndi Mbaise. They will not
succeed. Mbaise people are by far wiser than Benin people. Whatever worked
for them in Benin will never work for them in Mbaise. We will match them
force for force. That is the latest from Mbaise caucus and leadership
meetings. And if they try any nonsense, they will pay dearly for it. If you
love Anambra State criminal money bags, or are friends with some of them,
warn them to desist from this nonsense. If they misbehave in Mbaise they
will become history.
We suggest that all Mbaise citizens everywhere call on Governor Peter Obi of
Anambra State to stay clear of the problem in Ahiara Diocese. He should be
sensible enough to know that Mbaise will be a different ball game than
Benin. If he makes a mistake in this regard, he will regret it forever.
Governor Peter Obi should know that Mbaise is not Benin. Mbaise is not Awka
where he dominates like a lion king. It is Mbaise, a place like no other in
Nigeria. Mbaise is Igbo proper. And Igbo Mbaise does not respect any king or
governor or ruler who is supporting injustice. If Gov Obi chooses the way of
injustice, he will pay for it in Mbaise.
Mbaise people are notorious for daring the devil. If Gov Obi is coming to
Mbaise with his convey loaded with military and police forces to escort the
rejected bishop-elect into Ahiara Cathedral on May 21, he will get the
rudest shock of his life. If the governor paves the way for the police and
the army to commit murder in Mbaise, he will pay for it in every way Mbaise
people deem fit. Please, Mbaise patriots, tell the governor of Anambra
State, Peter Obi to stay clear of the crisis in Ahiara Diocese.
Mbaise patriots, call the president of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the
governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okoroacho to advise the Governor of
Anambra State, Peter Obi to stay at home on May 21, with his police convoy.
He will be harassed and beaten up in Mbaise if he ventures into the place to
intimidate people with his sirens and armoured cars. Mbaise people will not
be afraid of him. Let him give peace a chance. All Mbaise people are asking
for is justice to Anambra State people and Justice to Imo people, justice to
Awka and Justice to Mbaise. If Gov. Obi ventures to use the overwhelming
state power to support injustice, he will be beaten back. President Goodluck
Jonathan and Gov Rochas Okorocha, please, in the interest of peace and order
in Imo State, tell Gov Peter Obi not to cause problems in Mbaise on May 21.
There is no way he could come there to intimidate people without being
challenged. Mbaise will match force with force. Whatever it will take to
defeat him and his Awka gang, Mbaise will do it. To be forewarned is to be
forearmed!
Governor Peter Obi, please govern your richly endowed state of Anambra and
leave Imo State alone. Do not embarrass yourself by getting involved with
Okpalaeke case. It will destroy you and your legacy. Ask your brother, His
Eminence, what has happened to his legacy in Igboland. He dabbled into
promoting his cronies into the bishoprics of Igbo Church and today his
legacy is history. Nobody will remember the only cardinal the Igbo church
has ever had without remembering his atrocities and his despicable cronyism
in the Igbo Church. The same fate awaits everybody who supports the
injustice against the Mbaise people. Anybody that supports this injustice
will be consumed by it. Gov Obi, stay clear. A word is enough for the wise. "



From this write-up it is now certain that some of us Catholics don't actually know what we are doing. The writer of this article, if he is actually a Catholic, is trying to derail a lot of catholics. It is necessary to make certain fact clear for the general public:
1) There is no democracy in religion, Leadership in the Holy Roman Catholic Church is not by popular vote or tribal sentiments; it is left in the hands of those in positions of authority to elect one whom they feel is in a position to lead the flock in a particular diocese. Our duty as catholic faithfuls is to pray for those in positions of authority so that they can be guided by the holy spirit while making decisions that affect the holy church. This is the reason why a prayer is said for the Holy Father and all the Bishops during the consecration of the holy Eucharist.
2) This write-up is an invitation to the people of Mbaise to use violence if possible to oppose the installation of the bishop. The writer should not ethnicize the catholic church; there may be challenges about how the bishop will connect with the people of Mbaise but it should be noted that this issue will open the floodgate for other diocese to start demanding that their bishop must be an indigene of the diocese and it may lead to people fighting and killing each other in order to have their candidates installed in positions in the diocese; this is not different from what is done in the Nigerian political environment.
3) The priests and lay faithfuls of Mbaise should be more concerned about the spiritual growth of the people and not about positions. There is no iota of spirituality in lay faithfuls who took to the streets to demonstate and register their rejection of a new bishop simply because he is not from their place. If a protest is made due to a sacrilege commited by a religious leader, then it is understandable. Mbaise may have the largest number of priests from west africa but what actually matter is the level of spirituality in her priests and her laity. They should be more interested in the spiritual exercise
4) The priest of Mbaise should be reminded that they made a vow of total obedience to superior authority during their ordination so if an unpopular decision is being taken, they are bound to obey higher authority; disobedience to the authority of the Catholic Church is not a good example of a spiritually-minded catholic priest who is interested in drawing souls nearer to God.
Finally I want the good people of Mbaise never to lay their hands on THE LORD'S ANNOINTED even if misguided by their priests who are suppose to advise them.
Let all catholics continue to pray for the catholic priests of Ahiara Diocese so that they may lead their flock in the right direction and not to their destruction.
THE WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE IS AN INDIGENE OF MBAISE AND AN UNAPOLOGETIC CATHOLIC FAITHFUL

It seems my ibo brothers want to turn the church into some ethnic organisation. A war between the ibo, ahaira only wants an mbaise person, as though the bishopric is by ethnicity.

As long as I am concerned, Ahiara Catholics should appreciate the fact leadership in the church is not based on ethnicity. The catholic church is universal and as such an American can even be Bishop. Am Ahiara by birth and do not support this rather shameful publication. Let's stop dragging the name of the church to the dust.

Let Ahiara people go to Minna diocese and see whether the bishop there is a Nupe/Hausa man. Dont know why they are making noise over what they can not control.

whoever wrote that piece should be ashamed of calling himself a christian. He claims to be writing for ahiara but all I see is mbaise this, mbaise that. Such people should be avoided like plaque by anyone seeking salvation. Such are those who seek to gain the whole world and lose their soul. Ahiara Diocese please do take heed.

The writer of this article should be ashamed of calling himself a christian. The bishopric is not based on tribe or ethnicity. He should stop this silly sensitization and allow peace to reign.

I myself, I am from Ahiara diocese let justice be done. From All saints catholic church obodo ahiara.

Christmasdon: I myself, I am from Ahiara diocese let justice be done. From All saints catholic church obodo ahiara.

So, Ahiara brethren, what is justice? I guess the romans would have rejected Pope Francis from Argentina, or Pope Benedict xvi from Germany as Bishop of Rome. PH diocese should have rejected Bishop Etuk Udoh from uyo, or Lagos diocese reject Bishop Okogie from Edo. Make una wake up o, una boat dey sink.

this is serious sha.

I think the people rejecting the installed bishop are about starting their own ministry, very soon we shall hear that they have "torn" away from the catholic church.

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I think Ahiara catholic priests are disgracing the church. When did catholic dioceses become political parties? They said Cardical Arinze singly handendly selected the newly elected Bishop Okpaleke because, he is from his place. If that is true, whose fault then? Why did it take them up to 2years to select a bishop? Perhaps while they were busy playing their church politics, the cardinal was busy thinking and calculating. Now tell me, what will these priests preach to the laity? Will they preach love, when they do not show love? Will they preach peace when they are exibiting readinesss for violence? Will they preach patience when they can't wait for God to act? Will they preach forgiveness when they sound so unforgiving? A bishop of a diocese must not be an indegene. So Ahiara priests, for the sake of Christ you celebrate in the Eucharist, please welcome our new bishop. I bet you, you will find him interesting. Perhaps you are busy writing or planning a petition against bishop Okpaleke and rapture takes place, what will be your fate? Your responce will tell you if your actions please or displease God. To all - please continue praying for Ahiara people!

Ijedimma: I think Ahiara catholic priests are disgracing the church. When did catholic dioceses become political parties? They said Cardical Arinze singly handendly selected the newly elected Bishop Okpaleke because, he is from his place. If that is true, whose fault then? Why did it take them up to 2years to select a bishop? Perhaps while they were busy playing their church politics, the cardinal was busy thinking and calculating. Now tell me, what will these priests preach to the laity? Will they preach love, when they do not show love? Will they preach peace when they are exibiting readinesss for violence? Will they preach patience when they can't wait for God to act? Will they preach forgiveness when they sound so unforgiving? A bishop of a diocese must not be an indegene. So Ahiara priests, for the sake of Christ you celebrate in the Eucharist, please welcome our new bishop. I bet you, you will find him interesting. Perhaps you are busy writing or planning a petition against bishop Okpaleke and rapture takes place, what will be your fate? Your responce will tell you if your actions please or displease God. To all - please continue praying for Ahiara people!

the interesting thing in the case is that card. Arinze isn't even in a position to influence the pope's choice on who will be or won't be bishop.
I don't understand why Arinze is been crucified for an issue he know nothing about.