UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN

[Otedo News]

March 28, 2011

 

His Lordship,

Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji

Apostolic Administrator,

Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City .

 

Your Lordship,

 

THE APPOINTMENT OF BISHOP OBIORA AKUBEZE AS ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN IS AN UNHOLY IMPOSITION

 

It is a matter of deep regret that in complete disregard of the pertinent objections raised by us regarding the gravely flawed procedure you adopted in electing Bishop Akubeze as Archbishop of Benin, you have nonetheless ensured that you impose him on us. This development has confirmed that the welfare and interest of our people especially their evangelization, is of no importance to you.

 

Your Lordship, it has become clear that you saw in your appointment as administrator of the Archdiocese, an opportunity to fulfill your life-long ambition of entrenching your tribesmen in the plum offices of the Archdiocese. In plotting and executing this unholy assignment Your Lordship, we are particularly piqued that you resorted to telling lies and deception in order to achieve your desires. We recall that even without prompting by anyone, you pronounced that you came to the Archdiocese to put right the injustices meted to our people in the past. It is on record that you repeated this to Priests on numerous occasions and, one of such occasions, you even got them to vote for this position to further convince them that you meant what you were avowing. This is one of such incidents that we have found inexplicable in this entire saga. It is particularly painful to realize that you resorted to these lies in order to ensure that our people became complacent while you perfected your plot.

 

We recall, in particular, that during the visit of the Papal Nuncio, you deliberately exploited the mistaken belief of our people that you were representing their interests and exploited the situation to create the impression that you had their support. The Papal representative was under this illusion until you played your card and we were then forced to explain to him that our people had been fooled by you. We know too well that deception and subterfuge do not last and we hope that with the benefit of hindsight, you have realized how brazen the process you followed was by:

 

(1) Putting forward two Ibo candidates for election

 

(2) Putting together twelve Priests out of which seven were Ibo priests to vote for the two Ibo candidates

 

(3) Sidelining other Bishops and Priests in the Benin Ecclesiastical Province while plotting your scheme

 

We wish to point out that even in murky arena politics in Nigeria , what you did in the House of the Lordwould be considered unethical. We have also discovered that certain hired Co-plotters are busy spreading a false rumour that our Benin priests lost out because they wrote petitions against one another. This is untrue and we suspect that this is being deliberately done to provide an excuse for the fraud that has been committed in the election of an Archbishop. It is a wicked lie.

 

Your Lordship, the purpose of this letter is: 

 

(1) To inform you that we realize what you have done to our people

 

(2) To inform you that we REJECT Bishop Akubeze as our Archbishop because the process of his election was gravely flawed. In the circumstance, we urge you to have a rethink as a man of God and advise your ward not to accept this questionable appointment. This is the only way you can sufficiently repent for what you did.

 

(3) To leave a record for posterity especially our children yet unborn, about your role in frustrating the rapid evangelization of our people

 

(4) To inform you that we shall keep watch on the finances of the Archdiocese and take all legal steps to ensure accountability is ensured.

 

(5) To inform you that our people are resolute in their faith in God and the Catholic Church and that the steps we shall undertake in demanding for justice will be predicated on the social teaching of the church which affirms that whilst all offices are created by God, the method by which such offices are filled are left to our free choice. The election of Bishop Akubeze is fraudulent and we are determined to ensure that the right thing is done.

 

(6) Finally Your Lordship, we seek to remind you that the church in Ibo speaking areas of our country already have 14 Archbishops and Bishops. Our people are yet to have one after more than 500 years of the existence of the Catholic Church in Benin . It is therefore unfair for you to plot as you have done to snatch the only one position due to them.

 

We remain Your Lordship,

 

          _____________________                         ___________________

          Pa. V. N. E. Osakue KSM                          C. J. Aghimien

          President                                                     Secretary

 

============================================

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Recommended Reading:

- THE SELFISHNESS OF IGBO IN THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN CITY

- AN OPEN LETTER TO THE POPE:COME AND SAVE THE BINIS FROM EXTERMINATION

- UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN

- WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BENIN?

- Oba of Benin counsels Catholics

- SAVE THE BENINS FROM EXTERMINATION FROM THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

- Crisis rocks Benin Catholic Arch Diocese

- WHY THE BENINS WANT A BENIN ARCHBISHOP AND WHY NON-BENINS DON’T WAN...

- WAS THE APPOINTMENT OF BISHOP FOR THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN...

- Is It The Igbo Catholicism On Trial Today Or Nigerian Catholicsm?

[Otedo News]

OBSERVER

Court restrains Bishops Akubeze, Gbuji

BENIN CITY- A Benin High Court has restrained Bishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze from presenting himself for installation as the Catholic Archbishop of Benin on April 28, 2011, or at any other day before or after April 28, 2011.

The restraining order by Justice Roland Amaize on Tuesday, April 18, 2011 is sequel to a motion Ex-parte filed by Pa Osakue Vincent (KSM), Barrister A.I.. Ayemwenre and Chris Aghimien for themselves and of the Edo Liturgical Group of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin who are Plaintiffs / Applicants in suit No. B/286/MI/2011.

Joined in the suit, as Defendants / Respondents, are Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji and Bishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze.

The court also restrained Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji, 1st defendant in the suit from taking any further step or steps to actualize the 2nd defendant’s appointment or installation as the Catholic Archbishop of Benin.

Justice Amaize further ordered that both defendants, either by themselves, agents, servants, privies and whosoever named, shall not do anything whatsoever and however that is inconsistent with the rights and privileges of the applicants in the suit, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The court held that in realization of the facts that the defendants / respondents need time to react to the motion on notice if and when served on them, adjourned the motion to May 3, 2011 for hearing.

The plaintiffs / applicants had prayed the court for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the 2nd defendant / respondent from presenting himself for installation on the 28th April, 2011 or at any other day or time thereafter, and the 1st defendant/ respondent from taking any further step to actualize the 2nd defendant/ respondent’ s appointment or installation as Catholic Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese.

J.O. Aghimien (SAN) led Mrs. O.F. Oghahenhen, and Emmanuel Asinmhe, Esq for the plaintiffs / applicants.

[Otedo News]

From: Tony Agbali <[e-mail]>
To: Alen Ighedosa <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
Subject: Re: NigerianID | UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop. Period.


 

 

For the record, Bishop Anthony Gbuji was not ejected from Enugu because the people asked him to go.  Bishop Gbuji retired from Enugu where he was a bishop since the 1990s, following the retirement of the late Bishop Michael Eneja. Catholic bishops are required by Canon Law to retire at the age of 75 (this includes pastors of parishes- Parish Priests). In few cases exceptions were made for them to continue for a few years more.

 

This kind of reason was also why Bishop Gbuji, given his ability and the confidence reposed in him by the Holy Father and his conferes of episcopal peers, requested him to urgently help them in Benin City archdiocese, by coming out of retirement.

 

 It must also be stated that it is to the credit of Bishop Gbuji that Bishop Callistus Onaga, also became a bishop of Enugu, given that there was ease in the episcopal transition, and that no vacuum existed.

 

It is also due to his asserted competence, that when the vacuum existed following the resignation of the Irish-born, Archbishop Richard Burke, following allegations of sexual misconducts, that Bishop Gubji was brought in from retirement to foresee the administration of Benin City Archdiocese. 

 

While it is true, that there was some initial agitations when Bishop Gbuji initially moved to Enugu, following his choice, the people of Enugu laudably rallied around him for the mission of his episcopal ministry and the good of the administration of that diocese- where if all the facts are assessed, he did an excellent job.  It is that kind of coalescing efforts that is now demanded of the people of Benin City.

 

Humanly speaking, one can see the point of the Benin City hold outs, but if as it is that we believe in God, especially as Catholics, we must believe that even if there is an injustice, that it would be righted by God- ultimately. We also know that at times life does not always follow our own trajectory, and so it is good at this time, while making their discontent known to the right authorities, that there is charity and prudence.

 

I believe, that for the Archbishop -elect,  Augustine Akwuebeze, that moving and knowing all these dissenting voices exist, does not make it easy for him.  It must be heart wrenching and disheartening to him from a human standpoint.  However, I am sure that he has entrusted himself to the protection of Christ, his lord and saviour, whom he is called to imitate and accept his cross daily.  There relying on his own faith and obedience to the ecclesial mission he has no choice but still to go to Benin-City and carry out his mission there in fidelity and trust. This must be hard for him too; and not the kind of situation anyone of us would ordinarily envy to be in.

 

It is instructive to know that St. Patrick, the greatest Irish saint was not born Irish. But he carried out his mission with such tenacity and fervent dedication that he is now an Irish icon. The same can be said of St. Boniface (Winifred) a English missionary, who went to Germany, and today is embedded in German history as if his aborigine emanated from there. 

 

It is my prayer that at God's own time that a Benin City priest would be raised to the episcopal rank, especially given the longevity of the Catholic history therein.

 

For those who claim to be Catholics, utilizing their spiritual resources and energy, while using just and non-threatening benevolence and prudence, may be more fruitful at the end of the day.  There is nothing that happens in life, as Christians believe, that does not follow the divine plan.  Let it be that sooner than latter that Benin Catholics would rally around their newly elevated Archbishop elect, and continue in prayer for God to raise one among them someday, and hopefully not too long from now, to the episcopal office.  In the matters of ranks and offices, good Catholics should not lose their souls and sense of charity, even when they have legitimate causes.

[Otedo News]

--- On Fri, 4/8/11, Rex Marinus a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://e1.mc1619.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rexmarinus%40hotmail.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Rex Marinus a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://e1.mc1619.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rexmarinus%40hotmail.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] Fw: Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop.
To: [e-mail]
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011, 10:46 AM

"The interesting aspect of this assertion is the fact known to me that those behind this unholy development, operate from the mindset that has been so well enunciated by Obi. As far as the “xtian colonizers” are concerned, they, the Igbos in the Catholic Church in Nigeria , predominate in the Catholic Church. The extension of this warped   reasoning is the rationale that provided the basis for the fraudulent election of an Igbo man for the position of Archbishop of Benin City."-Ehis Esoimeme(Oje Okhiria)/Nowa Omogui
 
Let me restate for the benefit of those who find this line of discussion interesting: I have no interest in the church or its politics. True, as a former altar boy ( a very brief adventure) and with a grandfather who was a papal knight, I could put some claim to a Roman Catholic heritage or past.  But I'm mostly secular, non observant, and would really care not a hoot who is bishop or not of the Catholic Archdioscese of Benin. Let me also say, as a former resident of Benin city, during national service in what was then Bendel State, and a former neighbor of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa in the Benin GRA, I saw that his church - a local, pentecostal movement - one of the most prominent before the new wave of the Bakares and the Mike Okonkwos and the current cult of faith racketeers - he built his brand on a Benin mission. His adherents cut accross a swath of Nigerians, certainly, but it did certainly draw mostly from indiegenous Benin folk. It
therefore did meet their nativist instincts for a leader of their church to speak directly to their desire to be free of the "colonial church." Idahosa was Idu. I also noticed that the Benin did not give much of a fiddler's fart for the orthodox Christian churches or for any real Christian faith.  In fact, the driver who was assigned to me at ITF, Oghogho,  used to say, " oga, my God is Osanobua, and my church is my father's shrine in our compound." Now, I found all that admirable. Why do I say all these? Well, just to reiterate my earlier "naive perspective" for Esoimeme aka Oje Okhiria, and possibly aka Nowa Omogui: the Benin people themselves do not give a toss for the church. But if those of them adherents of Catholic orthodoxy feel they cannot endure the presence of the "colonizing Xtian Igbo Bishop" - they should withdraw en masse from the church as an act of defiance. They would drive their points home quicker by withdrawing their
purses and their presence at mass and at communion. They would also possibly drive the point quicker to the "colonizing Xtian" Igbo population of Benin City who may either join them in their defiance or find themselves under a great spiritual siege or the sheer overweight of funding the Catholic mission in Benin. But as long as they continue to go to mass and partake in communion - they must hold their peace and live with the rules of the church which claims an apostolic and non-ethnic or nativist mission, and therefore sends her priests to work wherever they choose.
 
Well, again, let me come to the more germane point of this response: this is to the frequent, unsurprising incrimination of an Igbo and of an ethnic plot and conspiracy to keep the office of the Archbishop because of (a) Igbo colonizing project, and (b) greed and selfishness - a point which Esoimeme aka Okhiria makes as the grand text of his gripe, and to show how other Nigerians regard the Igbo. I'd like to make this point, also for those who find this increasingly, depressingly cliched subject interesting. I am Igbo and Nigerian and in that context, I should say, given Okhiria's lachrymal distate for the Igbo, that I am sorry. Sorry for him and for his mindest. But I am not. I just do not care what he thinks of the Igbo. I am not sure many Igbo these days really care what other Nigerians think of the Igbo as Nigerians or as individuals. So, you see, it is the right of every Nigerian to think what they may about the Igbo as colonizers,
criminals, intellectuals, scumbags, greedy bastards, bushmen, cannibals, fraudsters, rebels, and all other antinomies ascribable to this diffuse group of Nigerians in the push-me-I push-you discourse of the Nigerian nation. I embrace all those and more. What we say is, you can call the Igbo all the names in the world, and it is the privilege of your insight or lack of it.
 
Finally, it boils down to the indigenous Edo not accepting an Igbo or any other African priest as their Bishop, particularly not their neighboring Igbo priest who has worked and lived in piety in the land that is also his by inheritance, although they were willing to worship under some Irish Bishop Kelly.  Now, all the foolish history about the church coming first to Benin is both extremely childish and extremely naive: once, the Teutonic Knights governed and established an order over a wide swath of Europe for hundreds of years. They no longer exist as the Benin Kingdom in fact no longer exists in reality, except as some museum in the reality of the new nation of Nigeria. The city of Benin, by the sheer fact of its modernity is a multiethnic formation. It has grown and declined first as the seat of a once powerful empire, to a colonial province, to the capital of a modern region, and now to a little more than an old state capital, reduced in
significance, with the excision of the Delta part. Once, Benin was growing into a new, cosmopolitan city with a fuse of Igbo energy, Urhobo, Itshekiri, Yoruba, Ishan, and the Edo energy too, among other ethnicities that converged in Benin City to give its remarkable new life up at least to the 1980s. Today, the city is like an abandoned lot, largely because of the obdurate nativism and cultural conservatism of its monarchical elite - one that limits progress, diversity, democracy, and mobility. It is also not true that Benin City is three million people. This is a demographic lie. The city of Benin, including its entire metro area cannot be more than 150, 000 people. Among that population is a sea of migrant Igbo, Yoruba, Ishan, Itshekiri, Efik, Urhobo, and other people who have made home in this place, and who worship in churches. They too have a right to elect their pastorate. The church in Benin city was not built for the Edo alone, but for
anybody who finds spiritual comfort within it. To make claims on it, simply on nativist terms is to subvert the mission of the church. As for me, it will be a very welcome development if a Benin boy went to the Seminary in Owerri or at Bigard, Enugu and grew to become the Archbishop of Owerri or the Bishop of Enugu. It is the perogative of the church. That is my point entirely. You may do with it what you like.
Obi Nwakanma

 _____________________ "If I don't learn to shut my mouth I'll soon go to hell, I, Okigbo, town-crier, together with my iron bell." --Christopher Okigbo

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: [e-mail]
From: [e-mail]

--- On Fri, 4/8/11, Ehis Esoimeme a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://e1.mc1619.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oriahogba56%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Ehis Esoimeme a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://e1.mc1619.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oriahogba56%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop.
To: [e-mail]
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011, 5:56 AM

Going through the various discourse in reaction to the ongoing drama of the imposition of an Archbishop of Igbo extraction on the people of Benin Archdiocese, the most outrageous is that of Obi Nwakama. In order to place his rather naive if not mischievous contribution in perspective, I reproduce some parts of it. Hear him:
 
“It is a simple thing, really: if the people in Benin City and the Benin Diocesan laity feel they do not want a Bishop, they should stop going to the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is (a) not a democracy (b) does not have to listen to them (c) it is a matter of faith to follow the decisions of the church made under church rules.
 
It is therefore a bit disingenuous by the indigenous Edo in Benin City to ask that a church, in which they are but a small part of its community of adherents, be burdened by the mindless politics of nativism that has nothing to do with the church and its so-called mission of faith. Again, if the Edo do not want an Igbo Bishop, they should go form their own church and incorporate under a different authority and leave the Catholic Church in Benin en masse.” 
 
The interesting aspect of this assertion is the fact known to me that those behind this unholy development, operate from the mindset that has been so well enunciated by Obi. As far as the “xtian colonizers” are concerned, they, the Igbos in the Catholic Church in Nigeria , predominate in the Catholic Church. The extension of this warped   reasoning is the rationale that provided the basis for the fraudulent election of an Igbo man for the position of Archbishop of Benin City.
 
It is pertinent to remind Obi of the following facts even at the risk of repetition. They are:
 

The Catholic Church got to Igbo land less than 130 years ago. In the same vein, the same Church was established in Benin City more than 500 years ago and it was only a combination of factors that led to its not taking effective roots after surviving for more than 200 years. Oba Esigie at the time was baptized into the faith and the evidence of this still exists in Benin . The situation that existed 500 years ago are quite different from that of modern times especially with the coming of the British Government and the missionaries that did everything to pacify the indigenous people and literally succeeded in “forcing” the people to appreciate what is now known as “western civilization”. The Igbos for this and other reasons imbibed the faith especially as the medium religion did not provide tangible threats.      
 

The Catholic Church in Benin after Bishop Kelly crafted policies designed to ensure that the Benins were denied proper evangelization. Even that, Benin has produced more than 35 priests many of whom are qualified to lead the Archdiocese and ensure that effective evangelization of the people is carried out. As at now, those being put forward to lead are non Benin , interested solely in the church’s treasury. The evangelization of the people is not the priority of the Gbujis Akubezes et al.
 
The most interesting write ups on this matter have been the ones that emphasize seeking the face of God by the people of Benin in this their hour of oppression. While appreciating this advice, it is important to note that the legitimate actions of the people in the form of protests and other measures constitute the “water” that is being provided so that God can perform his miracle and deliver the Benin from the unholy designs of those who must deny other people of their rightful claims even in the house of God.
 
In truth, let me remind Obi that his reaction comes across as a faithful manifestation of a chronically selfish mind that many Nigerians regard as the hallmark of our Igbo countrymen. I like to say that I have quite a few trusted friends and colleagues who are of Igbo extraction. Many of them are fair-minded, objective and decent. It is those like Obi Nwakama that give the Igbo the unfortunate tag with which their people are labeled.
 
Finally Obi should be told that no single tribe owns the Catholic Church in Nigeria . The fact of having the majority population in Catholic Church does not provide an excuse for divesting other Ethnic Nationalities of the benefits that accrue to them by Igbos while holding fast to their own. The number of Bishops and Archbishops of Igbo extraction is fourteen and one would have thought that they would allow Benin the only one position that is theirs.
 
 
Oje Okhiria

[Otedo News]

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/bng2.html

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Nigeria

Living Bishops

---

• Bishop Gabriel ’Leke Abegunrin, Bishop of Osogbo
• Bishop Anthony Ademu Adaji, M.S.P., Bishop of Idah
• Bishop Julius Babatunde Adelakun, Bishop Emeritus of Oyo
• Bishop John ’Oke Afareha, Bishop of Warri
• Bishop Felix Femi Ajakaye, Bishop of Ekiti
• Bishop Kevin J. Aje, Bishop of Sokoto
• Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop of Benin City
• Bishop Francis Folorunsho Clement Alonge, Bishop Emeritus of Ondo
• Bishop Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu, Bishop of Okigwe
• Bishop Michael Ekwoy Apochi, Bishop of Otukpo
• Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Roman Curia
• Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade, Bishop of Ondo
• Bishop Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, O.P., Bishop of Ilorin
• Bishop Matthew Ishaya Audu, Bishop of Lafia
• Bishop William Avenya, Auxiliary Bishop of Makurdi
• Bishop John Ebebe Ayah, Bishop of Ogoja
• Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop of Oyo
• Bishop Joseph Danlami Bagobiri, Bishop of Kafanchan
• Father John Francis Brown, S.M.A., Superior Emeritus of Kano
• Archbishop Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S., Archbishop Emeritus of Benin City
• Bishop Timothy Joseph Carroll, S.M.A., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Kontagora
• Archbishop Carlo Curis, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to Canada
• Bishop James Naanman Daman, O.S.A., Bishop of Shendam
• Bishop George Dodo, Bishop of Zaria
• Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme, Bishop of Maiduguri
• Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia, Bishop of Auchi
• Bishop Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo, M.S.P., Vicar Apostolic of Bomadi
• Bishop Joseph O. Egerega, Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Bomadi
• Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, Archbishop Emeritus of Benin City
• Bishop Joseph Effiong Ekuwem, Bishop of Uyo
• Bishop Michael Odogwu Elue, Bishop of Issele-Uku
• Bishop Camillus Archibong Etokudoh, Bishop of Port Harcourt
• Bishop Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, Auxiliary Bishop of Awka
• Bishop Vincent Valentine Egwuchukwu Ezeonyia, C.S.Sp., Bishop of Aba
• Bishop Michael Patrick Olatunji Fagun, Bishop Emeritus of Ekiti
• Bishop Albert Ayinde Fasina, Bishop of Ijebu-Ode
• Archbishop Renzo Fratini, Apostolic Nuncio to Spain
• Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji, Bishop Emeritus of Enugu
• Bishop Malachy John Goltok, Bishop of Bauchi
• Father Thomas Vincent Greenan, S.P.S., Superior Emeritus of Bomadi
• Bishop Charles M. Hammawa, Bishop of Jalingo
• Bishop Anthony Ekezia Ilonu, Bishop Emeritus of Okigwe
• Archbishop Peter Yariyok Jatau, Archbishop Emeritus of Kaduna
• Archbishop Felix Alaba Adeosin Job, Archbishop of Ibadan
• Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos
• Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria
• Bishop Alexius Obabu Makozi, Bishop Emeritus of Port Harcourt
• Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, Bishop of Yola
• Bishop Alfred Adewale Martins, Bishop of Abeokuta
• Archbishop Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso, Archbishop of Kaduna
• Bishop John Namanzah Niyiring, O.S.A., Bishop of Kano
• Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna, Archbishop Emeritus of Onitsha
• Archbishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna, Archbishop of Owerri
• Bishop Gregory Obinna Ochiagha, Bishop Emeritus of Orlu
• Bishop Senan Louis O’Donnell, O.S.A., Bishop Emeritus of Maiduguri
• Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor, Bishop Emeritus of Awka
• Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke, Bishop of Nnewi
• Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha
• Bishop Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo, Bishop of Nsukka
• Anthony Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie, Archbishop of Lagos
• Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Central African Republic
• Bishop Michael Nnachi Okoro, Bishop of Abakaliki
• Bishop John Ifeanyichukwu Okoye, Bishop of Awgu
• Bishop Martin Dada Abejide Olorunmolu, Bishop of Lokoja
• Bishop Callistus Valentine Onaga, Bishop of Enugu
• Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja
• Bishop Emmanuel Otteh, Bishop Emeritus of Issele-Uku
• Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, Apostolic Nuncio to Korea
• Archbishop Girolamo Prigione, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to México
• Bishop Patrick Francis Sheehan, O.S.A., Bishop Emeritus of Kano
• Bishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Bishop of Umuahia
• Archbishop Joseph Edra Ukpo, Archbishop of Calabar
• Bishop Augustine Tochukwu Ukwuoma, Bishop of Orlu
• Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh, Bishop of Ikot Ekpene
• Bishop Athanasius Atule Usuh, Bishop of Makurdi
• Bishop Martin Igwe Uzoukwu, Bishop of Minna
• Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, Secretary of the Governatorate of Vatican City State, Roman Curia

Bishops: 77

_____________________________________________________________

On Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 6:27 AM, Nowa Omoigui a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=[e-mail]">[e-mail]> wrote:
 

--- On Fri, 4/8/11, Ehis Esoimeme a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=[e-mail]">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Ehis Esoimeme a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=[e-mail]">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop.
To: [e-mail]
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011, 5:56 AM

Going through the various discourse in reaction to the ongoing drama of the imposition of an Archbishop of Igbo extraction on the people of Benin Archdiocese, the most outrageous is that of Obi Nwakama. In order to place his rather naive if not mischievous contribution in perspective, I reproduce some parts of it. Hear him:

 

“It is a simple thing, really: if the people in Benin City and the Benin Diocesan laity feel they do not want a Bishop, they should stop going to the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is (a) not a democracy (b) does not have to listen to them (c) it is a matter of faith to follow the decisions of the church made under church rules.

 

It is therefore a bit disingenuous by the indigenous Edo in Benin City to ask that a church, in which they are but a small part of its community of adherents, be burdened by the mindless politics of nativism that has nothing to do with the church and its so-called mission of faith. Again, if the Edo do not want an Igbo Bishop, they should go form their own church and incorporate under a different authority and leave the Catholic Church in Benin en masse.” 

 

The interesting aspect of this assertion is the fact known to me that those behind this unholy development, operate from the mindset that has been so well enunciated by Obi. As far as the “xtian colonizers” are concerned, they, the Igbos in the Catholic Church in Nigeria , predominate in the Catholic Church. The extension of this warped   reasoning is the rationale that provided the basis for the fraudulent election of an Igbo man for the position of Archbishop of Benin City.

 

It is pertinent to remind Obi of the following facts even at the risk of repetition. They are:

 

1. The Catholic Church got to Igbo land less than 130 years ago. In the same vein, the same Church was established in Benin City more than 500 years ago and it was only a combination of factors that led to its not taking effective roots after surviving for more than 200 years. Oba Esigie at the time was baptized into the faith and the evidence of this still exists in Benin . The situation that existed 500 years ago are quite different from that of modern times especially with the coming of the British Government and the missionaries that did everything to pacify the indigenous people and literally succeeded in “forcing” the people to appreciate what is now known as “western civilization”. The Igbos for this and other reasons imbibed the faith especially as the medium religion did not provide tangible threats.      

 

2. The Catholic Church in Benin after Bishop Kelly crafted policies designed to ensure that the Benins were denied proper evangelization. Even that, Benin has produced more than 35 priests many of whom are qualified to lead the Archdiocese and ensure that effective evangelization of the people is carried out. As at now, those being put forward to lead are non Benin , interested solely in the church’s treasury. The evangelization of the people is not the priority of the Gbujis Akubezes et al.

 

The most interesting write ups on this matter have been the ones that emphasize seeking the face of God by the people of Benin in this their hour of oppression. While appreciating this advice, it is important to note that the legitimate actions of the people in the form of protests and other measures constitute the “water” that is being provided so that God can perform his miracle and deliver the Benin from the unholy designs of those who must deny other people of their rightful claims even in the house of God.

 

In truth, let me remind Obi that his reaction comes across as a faithful manifestation of a chronically selfish mind that many Nigerians regard as the hallmark of our Igbo countrymen. I like to say that I have quite a few trusted friends and colleagues who are of Igbo extraction. Many of them are fair-minded, objective and decent. It is those like Obi Nwakama that give the Igbo the unfortunate tag with which their people are labeled.

 

Finally Obi should be told that no single tribe owns the Catholic Church in Nigeria . The fact of having the majority population in Catholic Church does not provide an excuse for divesting other Ethnic Nationalities of the benefits that accrue to them by Igbos while holding fast to their own. The number of Bishops and Archbishops of Igbo extraction is fourteen and one would have thought that they would allow Benin the only one position that is theirs.

 

 

Oje Okhiria

[Otedo News]

Dear Nowa,

                Thanks for making the point that Benin's protest is not just about having a Benin as Archbishop, which is an attempt to reduce Benin's struggle for justice in the church to petty tribalism.

                The crux of Benin agitation now is the  fraudulent and deceptive way Bishop Gbuji went about it. This was not known until the Edo liturgical group exposed it. We did suspect in December, when we raised suspicion about the curious manner in which the process threw up two Igbo Priests as the foremost contenders. Now that the cat is out of the bag, the struggle against man made injustice need to be corrected.One who cannot be trusted with a small thing should not be entrusted with a big one.

              Rome will need to correct the process to enable the evangelization of the Benin area or contend with the crisis that was experienced in the Diocese in 1951, which Rome had to wade into. 
Uyilawa Usuanlele

On Mon, Apr 4, 2011 at 10:04 PM, Nowa Omoigui a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=[e-mail]">[e-mail]> wrote:
  Dear Mr. Agbali
 
Thanks again for your erudite analysis. Many terms are used in Canon Law, like resignation, retirement, promotion, appointment, election etc...It is good that the laity gets to understand precisely what each term means and the implications. In ordinary English, for example, an appointment is very different from an election. A resignation is very different from a retirement. But let us not dwell on distractions.
 
The real problem, though, as I pointed out earlier, is the perception among the laity of a betrayal of trust in the "fraudulent" manipulation of the process for selection of an ArchBishop for the ArchDiocese of Benin.

Fraud is a very serious allegation, particularly in a House of God. The letter from the Edo Liturgical Group is self explanatory. The ArchBishop designate is being rejected "because the process of his election was gravely flawed." It is that simple. Was it flawed? Or was it not? What is the remedy IF flawed?
 
If a credible process had thrown up the same ArchBishop designate (irrespective of his ethnicity - God bless him), the divisions engendered by the manner in which things were done would have been far less, and we would not be "blaming the victim" for daring to complain.

Yes, there are many ethnic nationalities in the Arch Diocese of Benin, just as there are many nationalities (including Benins) in other urban ArchDioceses in Nigeria (and the world). There are also vast areas of under-evangelized communities in the larger Benin rural areas. But pray tell; how come those same diverse nationalities in the Benin ArchDiocese (as a whole) which are convenient to cite, were somewhow underreflected in the electoral college and the eventual selection of names that went to the Vatican? Forget about the Benins for a moment. What about the others?

A statistician would be able to actually analyse the probability that the outcome was entirely due to chance and provide the confidence interval of the estimate.

Anyway, I digress. As I pointed out earlier, the matter is before the Vatican, and I suspect short and long term measures will be undertaken to protect the church and its mission, even if they never become public knowledge.

Much more than prayer and deference to God is required when allegations of fraud have been made publicly. It gets to the heart of the credibility of the system. As it has done in other church scandals, the Vatican has no choice but to order a full scale investigation, whether privately or publicly, hopefully one that will engender confidence in the leadership and the system.

May God continue to bless you, the ArchDiocese and the Church as whole. The sooner we put this matter behind us the better.

Regards

NAO

 

--- On Mon, 4/4/11, Tony Agbali a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=attahagbl%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Tony Agbali a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=attahagbl%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NigerianID | Re: | UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop. Period.
To: "Nowa Omoigui" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nowa_o%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 4:52 PM

Dr. Omoigui,
 
The term "resignation" from the office of a bishop or as a pastor of a parish has a specific nuance. That means that the age of 75 for a bishop, he tenders his resignation to the Pope who accepts it, or asks him to wait by not accepting immediately.  This was the case with the late Cardinal O'Connor of New York. 
 
Effectively, the term "resignation" entails retirement. The Bishop then acquires the title "emeritus." For the case of Bishop Gbuji, he tendered his resignation once he reached that age.  The same church, whom he had served deservedly now trusting his competence and experience, requested him to do them a service by taking charge of Benin City Archdiocese.
 
Now, as a Catholic, and one who is ordained as a priest within its rank, and also a Nigerian, I feel sick that Catholics can continue to perpetuate and privilege negative forms of instrumental ethnicity.  It is true that a Benin City priest would probably make a good bishop. I do not think that the problem is that there are no good Benin City priests.  I know a lot of very well mannered, cultivated, pious, and dedicated priests.  And no one has made any categorical assertion in that direction that vilifies the capability of any Benin City archdiocesan priest, as far as I can tell. In some ways, the office of bishop, while seeming a promotion continue to be a cross and service- that is why it is marked by the symbolism of shepherdhood.
 
In essence, we must be reminded and guided by what the late Pope John Paul II asserts: "The call to become a bishop is certainly a great honor. This does not mean, however, that he is chosen for having distinguished himself among many others as an outstanding person and Christian. The honor comes from his mission to stand at the heart of the Church as the first in faith, first in love, first in fidelity, and first in service. If someone seeks in the episcopal ofice honor for its own sake, he will not be able to fulfil his episcopal mission well. The first and most important aspect of the honor due to a bishop lies in the responsibility associated with his ministry" (Rise, Let Us be on Our Way, Warner Books, 2004, p4)..
 
 He prescibes the responsibility of a bishop as follows: "he should realize that it is his duty to ensure that all who are chosen and called by Christ, even the least, can discover and fulfill their vocation in the Church. That is why a bishop, like Christ, calls, gathers, and teachers around the Table of the Body and Blood of Christ. At the same time, the bishop both leads and serves. He must be faithful to the Church- and to each of its members, even to the least whom Christ has called and with whom He identifies (Matt. 25:45). As a sign of this fidelity that bishop receives a ring" (Rise, Let us Be on our Way, p. 37).
 
"A bishop must guide and lead. The faithful will listen to him and love him to the degree that he imitates Christ" (Rise, Let Us Be on our Way, p. 48). And adding further he says: "If a bishop says: "I'm in charge here" or "I'm only here to serve," then something is mission: He must serve by ruling and rule by serving. (Rise, Let Us Be on our Way, p.50)"
 
Humanly speaking, the aspiration of the Benin people to have one of their own at the helms of their church affairs is understandable. But just holding on that in causing division should be discouraged.  The God whose ways are inscrutable, no matter the human politics and schemes, that some seem to always adduce, would in divine time and according to His providence meet the aspirations of the Benin people and Catholics.
 
It is wrong to assume that because the Oyo people rejected the now Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, in as far back as 1971, that that should become the model today.  That kind of politics back then and even now is wrong.  However, I personally believe that even in muddled affairs such as this, that God always work his ways through and His plans and purposes would always never be jeopardized. 
 
The current antagonism and aggressive reactions, only goes to show the nature of the understanding of the Christian and Catholic faith.  The church is always, and eternally missionary.  While I understand that there are no Nigerian Cardinals or Archbishops in dioceses of Europe and America, I know also that the possibility exists. I also know the good effect and embrace of Cardinal Arinze among many American Catholics of all races and ethnicities in the United States. 
 
The nature of this current of rejection of a choice affirmed by the Holy Father is truly troubling.  I recognize that humanly we all would love our will to be reality, and even laws, but in life it is not always so.
 
Let us entrust this matter to the divine Master and saviour, whom if his ways are true, as I sure know they are, will always never fail or falter.  The mindset of politics will do more harm than good.  Afterall, while most of us see the current landscape of our Nigerian nation as screwed due to negative privileging of ethnicity and different layers of discrimination, the Catholic church and other churches, are leading the way for us to reconsider our pejorative utility of ethnicity or what I would prefer to call "ethnicism" (that which others call tribalism).
 
It is our prayer and hope that the God whom the Benin people worship, would raise one of their own to the episcopal college someday, and hopefully in the not too distant future. We must realize that because it did not happen today, does not mean it may or will never happen tomorrow.  I would be glad if there are no rancours in matters like this. However, human beings that we are, we must assert our humanity and privilege it as we deem fit- it the freedom which emanates from our free will, which God does not, even in all the assumed mightiness of His power and providence, does not tamper with.
 
Further, let us be also mindful that while the Bini constitutes the bulk of the Church of that archdiocese, there are many other ethnic groups from within and outside of Edo State that makes the Catholic Church the enviable entity that it currently is. Among the Benin City archdiocesan priests are those who are not directly Bini, and even of other races. Should one of these become named a bishop, would the Catholics of Benin City reject one that within the fabric of the Catholic Church embraced and gave their service to the people of God and people of goodwill of that archdiocese?
 
 It is true that the Benin encountered Christianity many hundred years ago, as also the people of Warri, and other African groups like the Mani Kongo and the people of El Mina in Ghana, among many others.  These groups by their historical interactions and encountered remain our African progeny, and their place and memories in shaping the contours of African Christianity cannot be overlooked- at least not lightly and negatively.  Therefore, the Benin must be proud of this memory and legacy, which is not diminished by their not having a Bini bishop- though, that would probably add to the excitement.
 
At this point, let all bury the hatchet, and let the ministry of the Catholic Church in Benin City archdiocese continue worthily, while hoping that through constructive dialogue and engagement, spiritual renewal and prayerful disposition, that God's will for the Benin people will be done.  I shall continue to pray for peace for the Catholics of Benin City archdiocese, asking the healing of our God upon them in this time, and that the divine spirit unfold and be heavily poured into the hearts of all that charity and integrity would make a huge difference in this matter.

--- On Mon, 4/4/11, Nowa Omoigui a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nowa_o%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Nowa Omoigui a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nowa_o%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: NigerianID | Re: | UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop. Period.
To: "Alen Ighedosa" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Tony Agbali" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=attahagbl%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Cc: [e-mail], "Umagbae Edo" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=UMAGBAE%40yahoogroups.com">[e-mail]>
Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 10:11 AM

 

Dear Mr Tony Agbali

Thanks, as always, for that wonderful input. In general, the more a process is free and fair and consistent with existing laws, policies and regulations, the more likely the outcome will be respected, even if some may be aggrieved. Same goes for the church.

The underlying cause of the tension in the ArchDiocese is the feeling that the process was manipulated to achieve a pre-determined endpoint. Had that same endpoint emerged after a transparent process, the protest by the Edo Liturgical Group may not have had as much support as it has.

Not that it matters to me in any way, but how come this detailed Catholic website (below) distinguishes between those who retired and those who resigned in 2009?:

http://www.gcatholic.com/events/year/2009.htm

Check out Bishop Gbuji's name. You will see that he is specifically reported to have RESIGNED. And this is not the only Catholic publication that has revealed this usually confidential personnel matter. Maybe there is much we do not really know.

Anyway, the current matter has since been taken up by the Vatican, and so there is little need for all the heat on the internet.

Warm regards

NAO

--- On Mon, 4/4/11, Tony Agbali a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=attahagbl%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Tony Agbali a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=attahagbl%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NigerianID | UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop. Period.
To: "Alen Ighedosa" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 10:01 AM

For the record, Bishop Anthony Gbuji was not ejected from Enugu because the people asked him to go. Bishop Gbuji retired from Enugu where he was a bishop since the 1990s, following the retirement of the late Bishop Michael Eneja. Catholic bishops are required by Canon Law to retire at the age of 75 (this includes pastors of parishes- Parish Priests). In few cases exceptions were made for them to continue for a few years more.

This kind of reason was also why Bishop Gbuji, given his ability and the confidence reposed in him by the Holy Father and his conferes of episcopal peers, requested him to urgently help them in Benin City archdiocese, by coming out of retirement.

It must also be stated that it is to the credit of Bishop Gbuji that Bishop Callistus Onaga, also became a bishop of Enugu, given that there was ease in the episcopal transition, and that no vacuum existed.

It is also due to his asserted competence, that when the vacuum existed following the resignation of the Irish-born, Archbishop Richard Burke, following allegations of sexual misconducts, that Bishop Gubji was brought in from retirement to foresee the administration of Benin City Archdiocese.

While it is true, that there was some initial agitations when Bishop Gbuji initially moved to Enugu, following his choice, the people of Enugu laudably rallied around him for the mission of his episcopal ministry and the good of the administration of that diocese- where if all the facts are assessed, he did an excellent job. It is that kind of coalescing efforts that is now demanded of the people of Benin City.

Humanly speaking, one can see the point of the Benin City hold outs, but if as it is that we believe in God, especially as Catholics, we must believe that even if there is an injustice, that it would be righted by God- ultimately. We also know that at times life does not always follow our own trajectory, and so it is good at this time, while making their discontent known to the right authorities, that there is charity and prudence.

I believe, that for the Archbishop -elect, Augustine Akwuebeze, that moving and knowing all these dissenting voices exist, does not make it easy for him. It must be heart wrenching and disheartening to him from a human standpoint. However, I am sure that he has entrusted himself to the protection of Christ, his lord and saviour, whom he is called to imitate and accept his cross daily. There relying on his own faith and obedience to the ecclesial mission he has no choice but still to go to Benin-City and carry out his mission there in fidelity and trust. This must be hard for him too; and not the kind of situation anyone of us would ordinarily envy to be in.

It is instructive to know that St. Patrick, the greatest Irish saint was not born Irish. But he carried out his mission with such tenacity and fervent dedication that he is now an Irish icon. The same can be said of St. Boniface (Winifred) a English missionary, who went to Germany, and today is embedded in German history as if his aborigine emanated from there.

It is my prayer that at God's own time that a Benin City priest would be raised to the episcopal rank, especially given the longevity of the Catholic history therein.

For those who claim to be Catholics, utilizing their spiritual resources and energy, while using just and non-threatening benevolence and prudence, may be more fruitful at the end of the day. There is nothing that happens in life, as Christians believe, that does not follow the divine plan. Let it be that sooner than latter that Benin Catholics would rally around their newly elevated Archbishop elect, and continue in prayer for God to raise one among them someday, and hopefully not too long from now, to the episcopal office. In the matters of ranks and offices, good Catholics should not lose their souls and sense of charity, even when they have legitimate causes.

--- On Mon, 4/4/11, Alen Ighedosa a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Alen Ighedosa a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: NigerianID | UNHOLY IMPOSITION - Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop. Period.
To: [e-mail]
Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 7:06 AM

If Bishop Gbuji himself has been a victim of rejection, then you wonder why he is taking Benin City for granted? Bishop Gbuji, since you are the designated messenger by the Vatican, you need to humbly go back to the drawing board because what is good for the goose must be good for the gander. Benin City needs a son of the soil as a Bishop. Period. Cheers and peace.

Alen Ighedosa

--- On Sun, 4/3/11, Nowa Omoigui a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nowa_o%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Nowa Omoigui a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nowa_o%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [Emma] Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], "Nnanna Agomoh" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mnagomoh%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "Anambra" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Anambra-WorldForum%40yahoogroups.com">[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "Emmanuel U. Obi" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bizon586%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Cc: [e-mail], "Umagbae Edo" a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=UMAGBAE%40yahoogroups.com">[e-mail]>
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 4:21 PM

Emma

That is very interesting

Regards

NAO

--- On Sun, 4/3/11, Emmanuel U. Obi a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bizon586%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Emmanuel U. Obi a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bizon586%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [Naijaintellects] Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 6:05 PM

The Catholic Church plays more politics than one can imagine. The people of Edo or Benin deserve to have a son of the soil as Bishop PERIOD.

In Enugu state after Bishop Eneja retired,they brought Bishop Gbuji but the people insisted on their own and Gbuji left, they now have Bishop Callistus Onaga.

If they won't give Benin a son of the soil,then the congregation should withhold their financial patronage to the Church PERIOD.When the congregation starts giving one naira during offertory they will take them serious.

Mazi Uzo Obi
Eziokwu bu Ndu
"whatsoever thou resolvest to do,do it now. Defer not till the evening what the morning can accomplish"(Unto thee I grant the economy of life,1978).

--- On Sun, 4/3/11, Alen Ighedosa a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Alen Ighedosa a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: [Naijaintellects] Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 5:08 PM

Nnanna,

You wrote: "All considerations seem in favor of the Edos! Let's avoid being partial, but be natural!"
To those partial hypocrites who are blind to reason; I have a few questions for you:

How many non-Igbo-speaking Bishops do you have in Igbo-speaking part of Delta State? Is everybody living in that part of the State a native of the soil?
If the Binis have allowed the Catholic Church to use Benin City as a hub to propagate for the past 500 years: The Church still can not fine a qualified son of the soil to consecrate a Bishop in 2011? I consider that fallacious from all perspective.
To those waggling their tongues uncontrollably about Benin City being heterogeneous; implying therefore, that any Bishop will do for Benin City. My message to you guys is this: If you have a problem with having a Bini Bishop in Benin City, please pack your rags and leave the city for where you will be comfortable. A Bini Bishop is long over due in Benin City. The people's patience and tolerance are being misconstrued for ignorance. Enough is enough. Cheers and peace.

Alen Ighedosa

--- On Sat, 4/2/11, Nnanna Agomoh a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mnagomoh%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Nnanna Agomoh a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mnagomoh%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011, 5:12 PM

Gentlemen,
I hear that the Italians used to insist that the Pope must be Italian and the jinx was only
broken after a millennium of practice, correct?
Now, according to Geography, the earth rotates and has not stopped rotating. So the Edo natives
appear right now to be on the track of earth's rotational axis where the Church leadership must
be a native. None should be amazed at the Edos' insistence.
More than that, the Edos can cite for authority Osuofia, the Movie star, who says that rather
than have the masquerade outlawed, let the white man go!
All considerations seem in favor of the Edos! Let's avoid being partial, but be natural!

Nnanna

From: Rex Marinus a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rexmarinus%40hotmail.com">[e-mail]>
Sent: Sat, April 2, 2011 6:18:13 PM
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: NigerianID | UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN

It is a simple thing, really: if the people in Benin City and the Benin Dioscesan laity feel they do not want a Bishop, they should stop going to the Catholic church. The Catholic Church is (a) not a democracy (b) does not have to listen to them (c) it is a matter of faith to follow the decisions of the church made under church rules. While we are it, the Edo are not the only observers of the rite of mass in Benin City, and the Diocese of Benin. Priestly ordination in the church does not include a reference to ethnicity. Wherever a priest is ordained or serves, that's his home. It is therefore a bit disingenious by the indigenous Edo in Benin City to ask that a church, in which they are but a small part of its community of adherents, be burdened by the mindless politics of nativism that has nothing to do with the church and its so-called mission of faith. Again, if the Edo do not want an Igbo Bishop, they should go form their own church and
incorporate under a different authority and leave the Catholic Church in Benin en masse.
Obi Nwakanma

_____________________ "If I don't learn to shut my mouth I'll soon go to hell, I, Okigbo, town-crier, together with my iron bell." --Christopher Okigbo

To: [e-mail]
From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 10:30:34 -0700
Subject: NigerianID | UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN

Ibukunolu,

I don't really understand what you mean. It is good however, that you read it. You seem complacent either because you are a blind follower or you are plain ignorant of the politics in the Catholic Church. I wonder whether you would dare question the people of Oyo, why they treated Cardinal Okojie the way they did. It's all about fairness. The fallibility of man is taken for granted. Until then, it's a game of hypocrisy. Cheers and peace.

Alen Ighedosa

--- On Sat, 4/2/11, Ibukunolu Alao Babajide a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ibk%40usa.net">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Ibukunolu Alao Babajide a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ibk%40usa.net">[e-mail]>
Subject: [Naijaintellects] Re: [abujaNig] Re: [UMAGBAE] Fwd: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
To: >
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011, 6:36 AM

Alen,

You are beginning to sound like a broken record here. Can you please ask the Pope to send your Benin candidate to the home town of his mother, so he can become as great as Olubunmi Okogie also.

A wise man knows when to disembark when the thicket is too thick for the horse to navigate.

Such a point is where you are now.

Cheers.

IBK

------ Original Message ------
Received: 03:53 PM EAT, 04/02/2011
From: Alen Ighedosa a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
To:
Subject: [abujaNig] Re: [UMAGBAE] Fwd: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN

Pa. V. N. E. Osakue KSM, C. J. Aghimien:

I am with you 500% on this one!!!!!! This matter has gotten to the stage of calling it a demand. The catholic Archdiocese of Benin City is demanding for an indigenous Bishop. Period! There is really nothing to negotiate at this stage in the game.
Bishop Gbuji, if I am not mistaking, was groomed in the Minor Seminary in Benin, under late Bishop Kelly.
A case in point:
In 1971, the then Bishop Anthony Olubunmi Okojie, was rejected by the people of Oyo as their Bishop. What was the reason? His father was an Esan - in Edo State, despite the following:

His mother was Yoruba - Oyo native.
He was born in Lagos, hence a native.
He even has a Yoruba middle name.
Yet, he was rejected because his father was not a native. A Oyo native was subsequently presented by the people and he was consecrated the Bishop of Oyo.
What happened to Bishop Okojie? The late Archbishop of Lagos, Kwao Amuru Aggey, pulled him to Lagos as his assistant. At the death of Achbishop Aggey in 1973, Bishop Okojie became the Archbishop of Lagos. In 2003, he became Cardinal Okojie. Bishop Gbuji should truely know better not to swim in this type of muckey waters. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander. If he is sincere in advancing catholicism in Benin City and its environs, it behooves him therefore to elevate a son of the soil to leadership position as an incentive and a role model. What more illustration does the church leadership need?
It is evident that the system is flawed and a remedy is urgently needed. That remedy MUST be no less than the elevation of a Bini son to a Bishopric in the Archdiocese of Binin City . Period. I hope Bishop Gbuji will read these emails and he will re-visit the process and be humble enough to make ammend by making the necessary changes. Cheers and peace.

Alen Ighedosa

[Otedo News]

--- On Sun, 4/3/11, Emmanuel U. Obi a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bizon586%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Emmanuel U. Obi a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bizon586%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [Naijaintellects] Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 6:05 PM

The Catholic Church plays more politics than one can imagine. The people of Edo or Benin deserve to have a son of the soil as Bishop PERIOD.

In Enugu state after Bishop Eneja retired,they brought Bishop Gbuji but the people insisted on their own and Gbuji left, they now have Bishop Callistus Onaga.

If they won't give Benin a son of the soil,then the congregation should withhold their financial patronage to the Church PERIOD.When the congregation starts giving one naira during offertory they will take them serious.

Mazi Uzo Obi
Eziokwu bu Ndu
  "whatsoever thou resolvest to do,do it now. Defer not till the evening what the morning can accomplish"(Unto thee I grant the economy of life,1978).
 
--- On Sun, 4/3/11, Alen Ighedosa a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Alen Ighedosa a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aighedosa%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: [Naijaintellects] Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 5:08 PM

Nnanna,
 
 You wrote: "All considerations seem in favor of the Edos!  Let's avoid being partial, but be natural!"
 To those partial hypocrites who are blind to reason; I have a few questions for you:

How many non-Igbo-speaking Bishops do you have in Igbo-speaking part of Delta State? Is everybody living in that part of the State a native of the soil?
If  the Binis have allowed the Catholic Church to use Benin City as a hub to propagate for the past 500 years: The Church still can not fine a qualified son of the soil to consecrate a Bishop in 2011? I consider that fallacious from all perspective.
 To those waggling their tongues uncontrollably about Benin City being heterogeneous; implying therefore, that any Bishop will do for Benin City.  My message to you guys is this: If you have a problem with having a Bini Bishop in Benin City, please pack your rags and leave the city for where you will be comfortable. A Bini Bishop is long over due in Benin City. The people's patience and tolerance are being misconstrued for ignorance. Enough is enough. Cheers and peace.
 
Alen Ighedosa

--- On Sat, 4/2/11, Nnanna Agomoh a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mnagomoh%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]> wrote:

From: Nnanna Agomoh a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mnagomoh%40yahoo.com">[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011, 5:12 PM

Gentlemen,
I hear that the Italians used to insist that the Pope must be Italian and the jinx was only
broken after a millennium of practice, correct?
Now, according to Geography, the earth rotates and has not stopped rotating. So the Edo natives
appear right now to be on the track of earth's rotational axis where the Church leadership must
be a native.  None should be amazed at the Edos' insistence.
More than that, the Edos can cite for authority Osuofia, the Movie star, who says that rather
than have the masquerade outlawed, let the white man go!
All considerations seem in favor of the Edos!  Let's avoid being partial, but be natural!

Nnanna

[Otedo News]

Mazi Obi Nwakanma:

I actually already counseled them similarly, to do:

- what Martin Luther did in Germany, broke away from the Catholic Church in Rome, and started his own native German Lutheran Church

- what Calvin did in Holland, broke away from tha Catholic Church, and started his Calvinist church based in Holland

- what Henry Vlll of England did, broke away from the Catholic Church, and started his own Protestant Church of England

- basically the same thing Osoba, Kumuyi, Adeboye Idahosa, etc. did in Nigeria, break away from mainstream churches and start their own.

So, why not the Protestant Church of Binin - formed by the breakaway Edo sons and daughters opposed to the Pope's choice of Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese?

Why all this comparison with Archbishop Okogie's case, as if the Catholic Church of Nigeria does not know its own history...?

As if these arguments would have any impact on Pope Benedict who must already have factored this point of Nigerians' obsession with tribe - especially there where it should play no role - into his decision before he took it!

The Catholic Church does take "fire brigade" actions like we are used to doing in Nigeria - she THINKS and WEIGHS all options before making a move - any move!

Therefore, if you folks are so strongly opposed to the Pope's choice of Archbishop of Benin, there is a very simple solution:

You should ALL "go form your own church and incorporate under a different authority and leave the Catholic Church in Benin en masse.
Obi Nwakanma"

Case closed!

There are legions of historical precedence for such a move.

Next case please...

Dr. Valentine Ojo
Tall Timbers, MD



On Sat 04/02/11 7:18 PM , Rex Marinus [e-mail] sent:



It is a simple thing, really: if the people in Benin City and the Benin Dioscesan laity feel they do not want a Bishop, they should stop going to the Catholic church. The Catholic Church is (a) not a democracy (b) does not have to listen to them (c) it is a matter of faith to follow the decisions of the church made under church rules. While we are it, the Edo are not the only observers of the rite of mass in Benin City, and the Diocese of Benin. Priestly ordination in the church does not include a reference to ethnicity. Wherever a priest is ordained or serves, that's his home. It is therefore a bit disingenious by the indigenous Edo in Benin City to ask that a church, in which they are but a small part of its community of adherents, be burdened by the mindless politics of nativism that has nothing to do with the church and its so-called mission of faith. Again, if the Edo do not want an Igbo Bishop, they should go form thei! r own church and incorporate under a different authority and leave the Catholic Church in Benin en masse.
Obi Nwakanma


_____________________ "If I don't learn to shut my mouth I'll soon go to hell, I, Okigbo, town-crier, together with my iron bell." --Christopher Okigbo

[Otedo News]

The tribalism you Edo folks have been pulling of late is patently disgraceful. You guys ought to be ashamed of yourselves for going ethnic anytime an opening springs up within Edo land. The total population of Edo people throughout Nigeria is less than 5 million. What happens when larger ethnic groups insist as you folks do, will an Edo ever earn a position of responsibility in Nigeria, outside of your little Edo land?

 

Edo folks, please stop this primitive behaviors, my friends. Let the best candidate for pastorship, vice chancellorship, and other ships emerge in Edoland and all over Nigeria. It is unbelievably disgraceful that Joe Igietseme and Nowambe Omoigui, two die-hard champions of one Nigerianism, are participants in this shameful local championship gunning in appointment of an archbishop.   

 

Ejikwem ogu o for Nigerians!

 

Nebukadineze Adiele
Organized religion sired irrationality.

 

In a message dated 4/2/2011 5:52:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [e-mail] writes:

 

Ibukunolu,    I don't really understand what you mean. It is good however, that you read it. You seem complacent either because you are a blind follower or you are plain ignorant of the politics in the Catholic Church. I wonder whether you would dare question the people of Oyo, why they treated Cardinal Okojie the way they did. It's all about fairness. The fallibility of man is taken for granted. Until then, it's a game of hypocrisy. Cheers and peace.  Alen Ighedosa --- On Sat, 4/2/11, Ibukunolu Alao Babajide span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted #366388; cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1301823946_2">[e-mail]> wrote: From: Ibukunolu Alao Babajide <[e-mail]> Subject: [Naijaintellects] Re: [abujaNig] Re: [UMAGBAE] Fwd: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN To: > Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011, 6:36 AM Alen, You are beginning to sound like a broken record here.  Can you please ask the Pope to send your Benin candidate to the home town of his mother, so he can become as great as Olubunmi Okogie also. A wise man knows when to disembark when the thicket is too thick for the horse to navigate. Such a point is where you are now. Cheers. IBK ------ Original Message ------ Received: 03:53 PM EAT, 04/02/2011 From: Alen Ighedosa <[e-mail]> To: Subject: [abujaNig] Re: [UMAGBAE] Fwd: UNHOLY IMPOSITION - ARCHBISHOP OF ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN    Nowa:  I am with you 500% on this one!!!!!! This matter has gotten to the stage of calling it a demand. The catholic Archdiocese of Benin City is demanding for an indigenous Bishop. Period! There is really nothing to negotiate at this stage in the game.  Bishop Gbuji, if I am not mistaking, was groomed in the Minor Seminary in Benin, under late Bishop Kelly.  A case in point:  In 1971, the then Bishop Anthony Olubunmi Okojie, was rejected by the people of Oyo as their Bishop. What was the reason? His father was an Esan - in Edo State, despite the following: His mother was Yoruba - Oyo native. He was born in Lagos, hence a native. He even has a Yoruba middle name.  Yet, he was rejected because his father was not a native. A Oyo native was subsequently presented by the people and he was consecrated the Bishop of Oyo.  What happened to Bishop Okojie? The late Archbishop of Lagos, Kwao Amuru Aggey, pulled him to Lagos as his assistant. At the death of Achbishop Aggey in 1973, Bishop Okojie became the Archbishop of Lagos. In 2003, he became Cardinal Okojie. Bishop Gbuji should truely know better not to swim in this type of muckey waters. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander. If he is sincere in advancing catholicism in Benin City and its environs, it behooves him therefore to elevate a son of the soil to leadership position as an incentive and a role model. What more illustration does the church leadership need?  It is evident that the system is flawed and a remedy is urgently needed. That remedy MUST be no less than the elevation of a Bini son to a Bishopric in the Archdiocese of Binin City . Period. I hope Bishop Gbuji will read these emails and he will re-visit the process and be humble enough to make ammend by making the necessary changes. Cheers and peace.   Alen Ighedosa

[Otedo News]

OBSERVER

Group Protest Undue Marginalisation Of Indigenous Priests 
Last updated: 03/30/2011 

BENIN CITY-The Edo liturgical Group, catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, has protested to Rome decrying what they called undue marginalisation of indigenous Benin priests from becoming archbishops for the Metropolitan See of Benin City, Nigeria.

In a letter addressed to the Most Rev. (Dr.) Augustine Kasujja, Apostolic Nunciature, Abuja and signed by the group’s president, Pa V.N.E. Osakue KSM and the secretary, C.J. Aghimien, the group alleged that a retired Igbo bishop of Enugu, in Eastern Nigeriaand the Apostolic Administrator (AA), Bishop Anthony Gbuji, had plotted to disorganise and destroy the Archdiocese of Benin City.

While calling for his recall from the Archdiocese of Benin on account of his domineering and tribalistic tendencies, the E.L.G. called on the Supreme Pontiff to use his office to freely appoint an archbishop for the Metropolitan See of Benin City, Nigeria.

The group condemned a situation where there was no single indigenous Bishop assigned to Benin because of the gross neglect by the erstwhile Catholic archbishop and emphasized that, “we therefore appeal to His Holiness to freely appoint an Archbishop from among the indigenous clergy for the Metropolitan See of Benin City who will evangelise the Benin people in the Catholic faith in the face of stiff competition from other religions and Christian denominations”.

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