Enugu Priest Urged To Quit Catholic Church Over Alleged Bishop’s Abandonment

The Spiritual Director of Okunerere Adoration Ministry, Nsukka, Rev Fr Paul Obayi, has been advised to quit the Catholic Church following his claims that the Bishop of Nsukka Dioceses, Professor Godfery Onah, as well as his co-priests had abandoned him.

Obayi made the claims during his homily at the adoration ground to mark the Palm Sunday. THE WHISTLER reported that a part of the adoration ground was a few months ago demolished by a woman who was escorted by men of the Nigeria Police.

She had mobilised a bulldozer to effect the demolition of an extension of the prayer ground, which affected the water factory of the ministry. Fr Obayi had stated that a new water bottling machine he procured, valued at N300m, was destroyed, alongside buildings and other valuables during the demolition.

A facebook post on the wall of MC Zion Ebuka stated that Fr Obayi told the congregation that he would leave the ground following the silence of his bishop. He also said he would give former Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi special gifts. Ugwuanyi was the governor when Fr Obayi acquired a part of the land. The disputed area reportedly does not belong to the priest’s original allocation.

Obayi had stated that, “Exactly one month ago, a woman called Princess Monica Otta from Abia State came with a bulldozer to bulldoze our water factory. I have been silent all this while for peace to reign and behold, all I see is trouble left, right and centre. I want to tell you one thing: we are going to leave this place.

“The woman told me ‘you must be fighting alone, your bishop is not with you, all the priests are not with you’. Till today, my bishop has not called me. I have sent texts to him. I have written a letter. No priest has been strong enough to speak about the evil. What I’m telling my fellow priests is that the partridge would be roasted the same way the cock was roasted.

“Am I taking the adoration property to my home? Am I looking for something to feed my wife and children? All Nsukka people kept quiet. This kind of thing cannot happen to an Imam. Muslims would devour you. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi did well for me by giving me this land. I’m also going to give Ugwuanyi a gift. I’m going to hand over this land to Ugwuanyi. He is now the owner of this place. They claim the land is theirs and so be it. Not only the land, the things I’m going to give him in addition are the houses, the remaining part of the demolished water factory; the borehole, the fence, I’m going to give him the crucifix; I’m going to give him the statue of Virgin Mary.”

Some commentators advised Fr Obayi to leave the Catholic Church. Ebere Jacinta posted, “I pity this man. His problem started from the bishop. He was the one that fought him first before any other person came in, so let him leave the Catholic Church, and find another church.”

Dimma Ike wrote, “Fr Obayi can tell the details of the late Fr Omego. Don’t remain under Catholic if you are called to serve. Many men of God today withdrew from Catholic.”

For David Ugwu, “The last I remember was when Fr Paul accused the bishop of planning to take over the place. Is it not possible that they decided to distance themselves from the land since they were earlier accused of encroachment? Well, the bishop has an office and time to meet with priests and laity. I advise that Fr Paul use that medium.”

Innocent Nwaezego commented, “It can’t happen to Moslems. Still yet no body condemned it. Call a spade a spade.”

Enugu Priest Urged To Quit Catholic Church Over Alleged Bishop’s Abandonment is first published on The Whistler Newspaper