Ahiara Diocese: Laity Still Reject Bishop Okpalaeke

Demand bishop from Owerri province, Okorocha wades in

In line with Pope Francis’ directives demanding letters of allegiance from all the priests from Ahiara Diocese before July 9, the priests said they have complied with the contents of the Pope’s message, but the entire laity equally rejected Bishop Peter Okpalaeke from assuming office in the diocese.

Instead, the laity are demanding a bishop who has affinity or incardinated in the diocese without minding his ethnic background, noting that they would not accept Okpalaeke for the fact that he does not understand the culture, language of the people, claiming he was secretly imposed on the people of the diocese without following due process expected in the selection and appointment of catholic bishops.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha had personally led heads of security agencies in the state as well as his cabinet members and the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri to the Maria Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral, Ahiara Mbaise to address the priests and the laity, where he had appealed for peace and calm while he studies the matter.

The appointment of Okpalaeke was however rejected by the Priests and Laity in the Ahiara Diocese, resulting in a stalemate that led to the shutdown of the Ahiara Cathedral and the Bishop’s Court.

Yesterday, thousands of Catholic faithful from the 163 Parishes in the embattled Diocese, stormed the Cathedral to protest the failure of the Vatican to appoint another Bishop to replace Okpalaeke, whom they said can never be welcome in the Diocese.