… Lambasts Those Calling for His Re-Election, Says it’s Ndigbo’s Turn to Produce Next President
. Administers Sacrament of Confirmation on 203 Candidates
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
Amawbia Community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday, 17 May 2026, celebrated the 100 years of Catholicism in the town with pomp and ceremony.
The epoch-making event attracted people from all walks of life, political class, the clergy, community leaders, the newly coronated traditional ruler of Amawbia, HRM, Igwe Uchenna Sunday Okonkwo, and his cabinet members, among others.
Speaking during his detailed and lesson-laden homily, Bishop Ezeokafor appreciated God for His grace and mercies upon the Amawbia Catholic Community, expressing delight with the way and manner the Catholic faithful in the town had worked for propagation and advancement of Christianity and Catholicism in Amawbia.
The Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese, who took his time to eulogize all the benefactors who helped to build and develop the parishes and outstation currently in Amawbia, prayed God to continue to guide, guard and sustain them, adding that without their assistance, the Church would have been lagging behind.
The Prelate, while congratulating the Amawbia Catholic Community, lampooned all those clamouring for President Tinubu’s return, describing them as insensitive, selfish and heartless, noting that the President had not done anything to warrant a second term in office.
The visibly worried cleric said the incumbent President committed an impeachable offence for reneging on all his campaign promises, especially on power, wondering why there was so much borrowing in his administration.
Bishop Ezeokafor stated that it was the turn of Ndigbo to produce the President of Nigeria in 2027, and that Ndigbo must support their own.
He maintained that the 2027 Presidential Election was the collective project of Ndigbo, and they must support their own to become President of Nigeria.
The Local Ordinary used the centenary anniversary to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation on 203 candidates and charged them to be strong in their faith in God and always fight to defend it and the Church as soldiers of Christ.
He further condemned the administration of President Tinubu and those supporting what he described as Tinubu’s bad government that had brought untold hardship and sufferings on the masses. He described such people as foolish, selfish and unpatriotic, noting that they were part of the problems of Nigerians.
Bishop Ezeokafor also used the homily to appreciate Gov Charles Soludo for providing security of life and property in the state, and for the provision of infrastructural amenities like good roads, solar-powered streetlights, general hospitals, solar-powered boreholes and others.
The Bishop once again frowned at the neo-paganism being practised by some Catholic faithful, stating that some of the children of staunch Catholics were killing their fellow human beings in the name of traditional religious practices, which, he said, was against the commandments of God.
He therefore, advised parents to make out time for their children out of their busy schedule by laying solid foundations for them and ensure that proper training was given to them at that stage of their life that they would not depart from when they grew up.
He noted that leaving their children without proper training would spell doom for them in the nearest future.
‘I advise parents to make out time and ensure that their children are given proper training at the early stage of their life so that when they grow up, they will not depart from it,’ Bishop Ezeokafor stated.
Concluding the homily taken from the Books of Acts of Apostles 1:12-14, 1Peter 4:13-16 and John 17:1-17, he advised the congregation to build their faith in God and live a righteous and purposeful life in order to make heaven and also make their departed brothers and sisters in Christ very happy.
He used the occasion to appreciate those that contributed to the growth and development of the Catholic Church in Amawbia, like Dr Joseph Odumodu, who, he noted, used his personal wealth to build St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Maryland, Amawbia; Engr Edward who built St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Amawbia; and Chief Victor Ike Oye, who is planning to build St. Victor’s Catholic Church, Amawbia.
In another development, the member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Prof Lilian Oby Orogbu, described Mr Peter Obi as her pride, adding that she was proud of him for standing on his mandate. She appreciated his contributions to her emergence as a federal legislator.
She further stated that God would use Obi to better the lives of Nigerians and urged the people to continue to support her and Obi, especially in the 2027 General Elections.
She equally stated that Nigerians must vote with their conscience in 2027 to make the country better.
She congratulated the people of Amawbia for the centenary celebration of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, describing the event as very important to her, noting that she flew in from Abuja on that day for the event, despite the fact that she was at the same church the previous week.
Orogbu told the congregation that she was the first female professor to represent a federal constituency in Nigeria since the advent of democracy in 1999, and also a representative of Nigeria in African Parliament as a first timer, which, she said, was very rare to achieve at the present time.
According to her, the people of Amawbia should be very happy, proud and grateful to God for blessing them with a well-recognized and patriotic daughter.
She praised Bishop Ezeokafor for being honest and fearless in preaching the Good news, and urged other clergies to emulate him.
Appreciating the Bishop on behalf of other sister priests and entire Amawbia Catholic Community, the Parish Priest of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia, Rev. Fr. Donatus Oragwam, described the Bishop as a Father and caring administrator.
Planting of centenary tree; recognitions and speeches from the immediate past Chairman of APGA and the Coordinator/Facilitator, Centenary Programme; Chairman of the occasion, Ozo RTN. Uchenna Ezeani; mother of the day, Lady Stella Odumodu, among others, formed the highpoints of event.
