Dons Eze
ENUGU INDIGENES REJECT ANAMBRA MAN POSTED AS BISHOP
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage and protests, the Anglican Church in Nigeria has elected Ven. Prof. Sam Ike, an Anambra man, as the new bishop of Enugu Diocese.
The election, which took place on August 13, 2023, in Abuja, has been rejected by the indigenes of Enugu State, who claim that the process was unfair and did not reflect the will of the people.
According to a petition written by Kingsley Okah, a justice advocate, on behalf of the people of Enugu, the election outcome is a clear indication of the church’s insensitivity and disregard for fairness and justice.
The petition alleged that Ven. Prof. Ike is a puppet of the retired Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, who has been accused of atrocities during his tenure in Enugu.
The protesters argued that the Anglican Church has consistently marginalized the people of Enugu, citing the fact that the first bishop of Enugu was from Anambra, and the immediate past bishop was from Asaba.
The petition demanded that the church hierarchy revisit the election outcome, citing the need for fairness and justice.
It also threatened to explore legal means to assert their rights and borrow strategies from the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, which successfully rejected Okpaleke.
The Enugu controversy has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many calling for the church to address the concerns of the Enugu indigenes and ensure fairness and justice in its decision-making processes.
