Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, has strongly condemned the assault on the Archbishop of Owerri, His Grace Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, warning those behind the act to refrain from such or attract God’s wrath.
The warning came on the heels of the action taken by thugs believed to be loyal to Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
It was gathered that Archbishop Obinna during a commendation Mass at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, organised in honour of the late Mrs. Juliana Mbata of Mgwoma Obube Community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, criticised the policies of Okorocha as well as his plan to impose his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, on the people of the state as his successor.
He maintained that the people of Imo State were suffering, adding that despite creating a Ministry of Happiness by the governor, Imo people were still not happy.
It was at this point that he was interrupted by murmurings by some state government functionaries and their supporters. They started raining abuses on the Archbishop and called him uncountable and unprintable names before rushing to the altar in an attempt to snatch the microphone from him. But for the intervention of priests who formed a protective ring around the Archbishop, he would have been mobbed.
Bishop Ezeokafor who spoke at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, while playing host to the members of Civil Society Labour-Media Alliance, Anambra State, condemned the incident, describing it as a dastardly act.
His words: “Judging from what I was told, a group of thugs perceived to be loyal to the Imo State Government disrupted the church Commendation Mass. I heard they called the Archbishop all manner of unprintable names.
“See, no one has the right to interrupt a homily. You do not question the preacher. You do not reply a homily. It is like a law court where you have to keep quiet. But, here in Imo State, you see them questioning and interrupting the Archbishop. It is abominable and condemnable.
“These politicians no longer have regard for God. How can someone come into a church and start causing commotion? I am not from Imo State; I can only advise the electorate to vote for a good candidate. I really feel for Archbishop Obinna.”
On the proposed Hate Speech Bill presently rocking the nation, the Catholic prelate expressed reservations over the idea by a section of the Senate to sentence to death by hanging anyone who violates the hate speech law.
He said the Bill would be disastrous if not properly managed.