Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, His Grace AJV Obinna has revealed what transpired between him and Imo State Governor Elect, Emeka Ihedioha, when the latter visited him recently.
He also gave an insight on what he advised Uche Nwosu, Governor Okorocha’s son in law and governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA in the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
Speaking to newsmen in his office on Tuesday where he reeled out his Easter Message, the Archbishop said when Ihedioha visited him after he was declared winner of the governorship election, he said he reminded him that democracy is not about intimidation.
He recalled how he cautioned Governor Rochas Okorocha on his command approach to governance which made the people of the State to become afraid of him.
“At a time in this State people became afraid to speak. So when the Governor Elect visited me I told him that he (Emeka) has come to serve the people. I reminded him that he should always remember how he begged for votes. And I told him not to be a tyrant.
“People feel omnipotent when they are surrounded by forces of power. The police, the army and security forces” he said.
He said leaders should learn to be role models, stating that the likes of Late Former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela was a true model of a genuine leader despite being imprisoned for twenty seven years.
On his encounter with Uche Nwosu, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA and son in law of Governor Rochas Okorocha before the governorship election, the Archbishop said he told him clearly that his governorship ambition was Okorocha’s third term agenda.
“He came here and asked me to pray for him. I told him if he emerged victorious I will not celebrate his victory but rather endure” the Archbishop said.
On his message to Christians at Easter, he expressed worry that “Nigerians have acquired and developed the culture of hating, hurting and murdering one another on a scale that was unknown in our primitive times
“The do or die attitude to elections injected into the Nigerian spirit and air in the year 2023 took a full violent and militarised face in the recently concluded elections of 2019.
“The number of those killed during the elections may not be publicly known.
He said the election in Imo State was palpably tense and that of Rivers State were a full scale war.
He called on Nigerians not to continue in this track.
“We Nigerians need not to continue in this track and culture of hating and killing one another over issues that other nations have resolved through reconciliatory dialogue and peace bringing measures. But without a spirit of forgiveness, forbearance and care for one another reconciliation and peace cannot be achieved on a lasting note.
He said for the current hating and killing in Nigeria within, between and across communities is to be overcome and eliminated, “we need to humble ourselves, everyone of us, look into Jesus Christ crucified and risen so that we may have life, peace and joy abundantly.
He said “there is need to initiate at top religious, political, ethnic and leadership levels reconciliation moves and caring outreaches that will create forgiving and caring dispositions and attitudes among Nigerians across our multiple differences and divides.
He expressed hope that Nigerians are yearning for a more reconciled and peaceful Nigeria.
” The lenten season is a most favourable opportunity to embrace the saving way, the saving truth and the saving life of Christ, we can become forgiving, loving and caring witnesses of Christ in line with generations of humanity’s lovers and care takers”
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