By Our Correspondent
The Nnewi Catholic Diocese on Thursday said it has not in any way abandoned or neglected Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah.
The Publicity Chairman of the Dedication Committee for Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi, Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Hyginus Aghulor, made this clarification yesterday.
Rev. Fr. Aghulor, who was reacting to a viral video made by Sir James Louis Okoye, who alleged that the deceased senator was not mentioned at all during the dedication of the cathedral on Wednesday, said that claim is a blatant lie.
The Publicity Chairman for the cathedral dedication committee said that the church appreciated the immense contributions of Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah and others towards the building of a beautiful edifice for the worship of God.
“The church has for months composed prayers for the dedication of the cathedral, revered our benefactors, raised those who have passed on before the Lord, amongst whom are Ifeanyi Ubah and Ajulu Uzodike, who has been part of the cathedral building committee from day one.
“The Bishop of the Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye, mentioned Cardinal Francis Arinze, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, and others during the service. Dr. Ubah was mentioned on page 10 of the dedication brochure.
He was also mentioned copiously from pages 7–9,” Rev. Fr. Aghulor stressed.
He, however, clarified that the former senator was a major benefactor to the diocese but did not either build the cathedral singlehandedly nor initiate the building project.
Rev. Fr. Aghulor also pointed out that people who give in the church do not do so to have their names engraved on marble, but added quickly that the church normally prays for her benefactors.
“As at the last count, twenty churches have been built by individuals in the diocese and none of them has been immortalized; we didn’t build monuments for them.
“The church, I must however say, has her own way of immortalizing her benefactors. We have one hundred and forty-seven parishes in the diocese.
“People who give to the church are giving to God, not the Bishop or priests, and the appreciation of those individuals is a continuous process, unlike what is obtainable in government,” he explained.
Asked to comment on the punishment the church will subject Sir Louis Okoye to, Rev. Fr. Aghulor said that Canon Law 194, paragraph 1, No. 2, and Canon Law 751, which address issues of apostasy, are clear on the matter.
