By Chidi Nkwopara
OWERRI— The schism, which has
been trailing the appointment and
consecration of the new Bishop of
Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Most Rev.
Peter Okpalaeke, by the Papacy, took
a more dangerous dimension
weekend, as priests allegedly got
entangled in what people described
as a dirty battle.
Vanguard investigations revealed
that Rev. Fr. Januarius Chima
Ahaneku went to St. Brigid’s Catholic
Church, Nnarambia, at about
7.15p.m., following his posting to
the parish by the Vicar General of
the embattled Diocese, Rev. Fr.
Clement Ebii.
While Fr. Ahaneku was accused of
storming the parish with thugs and
assaulting the resident priest, Rev.
Fr. Marcellinus Nweke, Ahaneku,
however, said he was there on
legitimate posting.
Nweke confirmed that he had to
alert the police and the people
when his brother priest allegedly
exhibited an act unbecoming of an
ordained Catholic priest.
He said: “They started harassing us,
using hammer and some iron bars to
break the doors and gained
entrance. Some of us even sustained
injuries. I dislocated my left
shoulder.”
Continuing, Fr. Nweke alleged that
the police recovered pump action
rifle, double barrelled gun and an
electric shocker from Fr. Ahaneku
and his friends.
Fr. Ahaneku’s story
In his own account, Fr. Ahaneku, who
is a son of Nnarambia, said although
he presented a letter from the Vicar
General, Rev. Fr. Clement Ebii,
deploying him to St. Brigid’s Parish,
as an Acting Parish Priest, he never
attempted the use of violence as
claimed by Nweke.
He explained that the men, who
were arrested by the police as thugs
merely accompanied him to the
Parish, to assist him settle down
with his belongings.
He said: “The Parish Priest left
without the knowledge of the Vicar
General/Delegate of the Diocese. So,
I was detailed to go there and take
care of the souls of the parishioners.
I did not go there with a thug at
all.”
Continuing, the obviously angry
priest recalled that “when Fr. Nweke
came out, we greeted each other
and I explained my mission to him
and he said he was not informed of
the posting and insisted that the
Vicar should call him.
“The Vicar General called him
severally but he refused to pick his
calls.
“I took him to my car and showed
him my authority: the letter I was
given. After reading it, he said there
was no trouble.”
Continuing, the priest recalled that
as he was trying to move his
personal belongings into the parish
house with the help of his friends,
Fr. Nweke started making calls.
Ahaneku said: “They first raised false
alarm to the police that some armed
robbers invaded their house.
“In a matter of minutes, several
people stormed the place. A lot of
them were carrying machetes and
other dangerous weapons.
“I wanted to leave in my vehicle but
my brother priest stood in front of
my car, insisting that I will not move
an inch. In order not to smash him
or commit any crime, I left the
vehicle there,” Fr. Ahaneku
recounted.
The Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, which
Fr. Ahaneku drove to the parish was
badly vandalized by the alleged
angry youths and was still in the
custody of the Church at press time.
Vicar-General’s confirmation
Reacting also, the Vicar General of
the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ebii, however
confirmed that Fr. Ahaneku had his
approval to report to St. Brigid’s
Catholic Church.
He said: “Fr. Ahaneku was sent there
officially to go and do pastoral work.
He had a legal paper from me.”
Meanwhile, Imo State Police
Command has appealed to the
Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, who
doubles as the Archbishop of Abuja
Ecclesiastical Province, His Eminence,
John Cardinal Onaiyekan, to find a
lasting solution to the lingering
crisis bedevilling Ahiara Diocese,
since the death of Bishop Victor
Chikwe.
The Police Public Relations Officer,
PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, who
made the passionate appeal, while
reacting to the mayhem unleashed
by some supposed parishioners in
St. Brigid’s Church, Nnarambia.
He said: “It is most shocking that
priests can get to this level. The
Catholic Church and its priests are
supposed to show good examples for
others to follow.”
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/catholic-priests-fight-dirty-mbaise/

'this money-making-organization has put we Africans in total confusion'
-- Fela Kuti

This is a show of shame, a lot of things are not clear here. When a priest is posted to a new parish with an incumbent parish priest, both the parish priest and even the faithful are notified before hand that a priest has been posted to them. Atleast the priest and parishioners should prepare and expect his coming, but here, it seems the incumbent priest is not aware of the posting.

That being said, I believe the parish priest owing to the fact that the said Fr Ahanekwu is from thesame diocese, must have known him before as a priest and shouldn't have raised such alarm after being shown the transfer authority by the incoming priest, if he really want to be sure, I believe it is not difficult for him to contact the vicar himself. I suspect there is more to this than what we are being told. Someone isn't at peace with someone somewhere, yet I didn't see how this is related to bishop Okparaeke.

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Why did the priest invite the police?

Priests in possession of arms!!!

Its a shame in christendom.

If it were pastors I'm sure my catholic brothers will take up the matter and become frontliners in criticism.
Truth is there are bad eggs everywhere, let's spot them and condemn them.