By Ike Abonyi
As a Catholic, I understand that the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka would likely prefer not to respond to the mischievous, speculative, and superficial article written by Rev. Dr Chukwuemeka Okpe and titled: “NEW DIOCESE FROM NSUKKA: HAS ENUGU-EZIKE BEEN SHORTCHANGED?” As a Catholic who is well acquainted with the Church’s operations and who takes pride in the capable leadership of Bishop Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, my initial inclination was to disregard the article as unworthy of a response. However, as an Obollo person and a journalist familiar with the harmful consequences of intellectual dishonesty and uncorrected errors—and aware of Karl Marx’s foundational warning against permitting false claims or defective intellectual works to remain unchallenged in published literature—I have decided otherwise.
Henri Frederic likewise reminds us that “Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence.”
During my journalism training, I learned that allowing poor publications to go unchallenged creates three significant risks: future writers may cite unrefuted papers as credible premises, misleading assertions may spread beyond academic circles without correction, and within scholarly literature, silence is often interpreted as agreement. It is in light of this that I have chosen to make this commitment and seek confession rather than permit this falsehood to circulate without challenge.
That article has portrayed Obollo in an extremely negative manner—as a greedy people covertly seeking to obtain what it does not deserve and participating in an effort to inflict injustice on another people within the same Catholic community, which is one body in Christ. Accordingly, this article is not meant to debate the merits or drawbacks of creating a new diocese for Nsukka or determine where it would be most appropriate or to treat Obollo as asking for a diocese, forgetting Eha Amufu, other Isi Uzo towns and other Udenu towns’ interests. I am confident that the Catholic leadership of Nsukka is in the most capable hands, under a Bishop who is not only intellectually knowledgeable about the Catholic Church, both locally and internationally, but is also deeply rooted in all matters concerning Nsukka. This article is simply intended to inform the mischievous Rev. Okpe that Obollo deserves an apology for having its name drawn into matters of which it is aware.
Obollo Catholics have several reasons not to be troubled by the creation of a diocese. First, we have complete confidence in and trust the leadership of Nsukka Diocese. Second, we recognise the danger of involving the Church in societal politics.
The recent experience of the Diocese of Ahiara in Mbaise, where controversy surrounding the appointment of a Bishop resulted in serious disciplinary consequences, should have been a lesson to the entire Catholic Church in Nigeria. Rev. Okpe should have learned from it if he is truly a Christian.
It is therefore deeply concerning that, instead of drawing a lesson from that experience, a priest is again entering the politically sensitive debate over the creation of a diocese in Nsukka.
The Catholic Church is a spiritual institution, not an arena for political conflict. The establishment of dioceses and the appointment of bishops are determined by the Church’s recognised ecclesiastical authorities and procedures. These matters should not be driven by political agitation, ethnic considerations, or personal interests, especially by non-members of the congregation.
A priest should serve as a unifying bridge, not as a source of division. His sacred vocation requires restraint, sound judgment, and loyalty to the authority of the Church, particularly on issues that could arouse strong passions among the faithful.
This is a solemn appeal to Rev. Okpe to refrain from introducing politics into the issue of diocesan creation in Nsukka. A spiritual matter must not be transformed into a political controversy or become the cause of another crisis that could have been avoided.
The lessons of the past must not be disregarded. The unity, credibility, and spiritual mission of the Church must take priority over personal ambitions and political calculations. The Church must continue to be a house of prayer and unity, not a stage for political contests.
Finally, Obollo and Enugu-Ezike have lived together as one Christian family, and they have also functioned harmoniously as one federal constituency. Rev. Okpe is attempting to sow discord, and this must not be allowed to continue.
If Rev. Okpe truly cares for Enugu-Ezike and Nsukka, his priority should be strengthening the faith and helping our people escape the destructive neo-paganism that is ravaging our youth. A genuine man of God should be concerned with nurturing faith among his people, not contending over administrative locations. May God assist us in this unending quest for salvation.
- Ike Abonyi is Editor @Large
