Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, on Friday opened up a public dispute with the Catholic Church as it took a swipe at Archbishop Anthony Obinna, immediate past Archbishop of Owerri and his successor, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, following alleged “disrespect to constituted authorities” during the installation of Archbishop Ugorji.
Governor Uzodinma lampooned both Clergy and the organisers of the colourful installation event for “failure of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri to allow him make use of the Governor’s lectern with official seal when he delivered his address during the inauguration of the New Archbishop of the Diocese, His Grace, Most Reverend Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji.”
In a statement by Lady Chantel Chinyere Adanna, Senior Special Assistant on Networking and Communications, Governor Uzodinma further condemned the Clergy for a “disregard and abuse to a Catholic Governor.”
Uzodinma lamented the “lack of respect by the Catholic Church,” openly displayed against him, noting that ” every election year, they (Catholic Clergy) will always route for their fellow Catholic to be voted in as a Governor especially in Imo State but immediately they get it, they are always the first to fight, disrespect, denigrate and abuse their Catholic Governor.”
The Governor then urged the Catholic Church to retrace their disobedience to the Bible as regards to disrespect to constituted authorities.