AWKA — THE people of Ihiala in Anambra State have hinted their willingness to commence the recall process of their representative at the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Chuma Nzeribe over his constant attack on Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State. They chided Nzeribe for what they described as “his malicious attack on the person of the Governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige”.
Ihiala people dropped the hint weekend in an address they delivered at the reception organised by the community to mark the conferment of the patron of Christ the King Catholic Church, Umuezeawala on Governor Ngige. The address was read by Mr. Chuks Nsobundu, the president General of Ihiala Progress Union (IPU).Nzeribe who represents Ihiala Federal Constituency at Abuja has vehemently opposed the conferment of the honour on Ngige, saying the Governor’s visit to Ogwugwu shrines ought to have disqualified him for any award from the church.He went ahead to write to the catholic secretariat in Nigeria and the Pope at the Vatican urging them to stop the award on Ngige, insisting that he was not a true catholic to merit any award.
Another catholic knight Sir, Victor Umeh had also opposed the award wondering why the Catholic church should honour a man who had visited the Ogwugwu shrines and took oath on them: Umeh wondered why the Director of Social Communications of the Catholic Church, of Onitsha Archedeceary did not makeclarification on this matter “so as not to vent the anger of teeming Catholics in Anambra State and in Nigeria”.
According to Umeh, practicing Catholics in the service of the Church and God were honoured with papal knighthood and medals on the 14th of August 2003 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka. It is evident that Dr.Chris Ngige was not among those so honoured by the Pope.
Those who patronize idol to steal should not come back to Christendom with their loot to celebrate”.But Ihiala people dismissed Nzeribe and Umeh’s positions: “We are certainly aware that one ChumaNzeribe wrote a petition to the Catholic Archbishop to stop the event, but was ignored. That is the way it should be because the Catholic Church is in a better position to know her faithful members.”We have also read all the rots on you (Ngige) on the Ogwugwu-Akpu saga by some people. We, the entire people of Ihiala strongly and unequivocally condemn the malicious attacks on you,” Nsobundu said.
