The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has dispelled media reports and insinuations in some quarters that the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Catholic Archbishop Valerian Okeke are at daggers drawn over the state burial law.
It said those labouring to pit the governor against the cleric were labouring in vain, stating that the burial law was majorly proposed by the church, especially the Catholic Church.
The National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, disclosed this in a statement made available to our correspondent on Friday.
Obigwe said the law was even enacted before Soludo became the governor of Anambra State, adding that the opposition was just labouring to strain the cordial relationship between the church and the government, but they would not succeed.
He said Soludo as a stickler of what is good would not shy away from doing the right things no matter whose ox would be gored.
Onigwe’s statement read in part, ”
It’s important for the general public to know that the Anambra burial law being promoted by Governor Soludo was not made by him.
“That law was enacted in 2019 and those that pushed for the enactment of the law are the Church, most especially the Catholic Church.
“The only thing Governor Soludo is saying without minding whose ox is gored is that there is a need for our people to adhere to the provisions of that law because it’s for the over all interest of our society.
“That law was not made by Governor Soludo but his main reason for promoting the law is because of his own belief that the best we can do in our society is to give the living a befitting living and give the dead a modest burial.
Obigwe said Soludo’s promotion of adherence to Anambra burial law at Rev. Fr. Obimma mother’s burial was not done with bad intentions.
“He did it at Oraukwu when he attended the burial ceremony of the brother of Chairman of Ejison group. So anybody trying to twist it is labouring in vain himself.
“On assumption of office, Governor Soludo made it clearly known that he will not preside over a lawless society and that we must endeavour to be adhering to laws. All these laws were not made by Governor Soludo, rather be is preaching the need for us to adhere to the provisions of the laws made in our state for our own good,” Obigwe said.
Obigwe said many people had realized that the implementation of the burial law was necessary and beneficial to society because it discouraged unnecessary wastes.
He enjoined all and sundry, especially the church, to join hands with the governor to achieve the purpose of the law, stressing, “Nobody can strain the cordial relationship of Governor Soludo and our highly revered Archbishop Valerian Okeke.”
