By Tony Okafor, Awka
Anambra Man Rejected Again as Bishop, Fierce Ahiala-Style Protests Erupt
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage and protests, the Anglican Church in Nigeria has elected Ven. Prof. Sam Ike, an Anambra man, as the new bishop of Enugu Diocese.
The election, which took place on August 13, 2023, in Abuja, has been rejected by the indigenes of Enugu State, who claim that the process was unfair and did not reflect the will of the people.
According to a petition written by Kingsley Okah, a justice advocate, on behalf of the people of Enugu, the election outcome is a clear indication of the church’s insensitivity and disregard for fairness and justice.
The petition alleged that Ven. Prof. Ike is a puppet of the retired Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, who has been accused of atrocities during his tenure in Enugu.
This development comes years after Bishop Peter Okpaleke from Anambra State was rejected by the Ahiala Diocese of the Catholic Church in Imo State.
The protesters argued that the Anglican Church has consistently marginalized the people of Enugu, citing the fact that the first bishop of Enugu was from Anambra, and the immediate past bishop was from Asaba.
The petition demanded that the church hierarchy revisit the election outcome, citing the need for fairness and justice.
It also threatened to explore legal means to assert their rights and borrow strategies from the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, which successfully rejected Okpaleke.
Okpaleke was later appointed Bishop of Ekwulobia, in Anambra State and made Cardinal by Pope Francis
The Enugu controversy has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many calling for the church to address the concerns of the Enugu indigenes and ensure fairness and justice in its decision-making processes.
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