Posted by By STAN OKEKE, Enugu on
The Catholic Church in Nsukka and the Nru community, also in Nsukka, Enugu State, are spoiling for a show down in what appears to be a clash between church and local tradition.
The Catholic Church in Nsukka and the Nru community, also in Nsukka, Enugu State, are spoiling for a show down in what appears to be a clash between church and local tradition.
The impending war has to do with the unmasking of a masquerade known as Omaba and Ori-Okpa by the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Francis Okobo.
The action has pitched the community against the bishop and the battle line seems drawn as the community has petitioned the Papal Nuncio in Nigeria over what they described as "His Lordship's conscious provocative and unwarranted actions."
Trouble began Saturday, April 9, 2005 at Community Primary School, Ugwu-Oye, Nsukka, when His Lordship Rt. Rev Francis Okobo, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, was administering the sacrament of confirmation on a group of children and some adults. By sheer coincidence, the day had been earmarked for the celebration of Omaba festival by the Nru Autonomous community.
The bishop, according to Frank Asogwa, the President-General, Nsukka Town Union, on sighting some masquerades passing along the road, ordered his congregation to apprehend them, apparently because he saw the action of the masquerades as a distraction.
Asogwa said following the bishop's directive, the masquerades were promptly "arrested" and brought before the bishop who then asked that they be unmasked.
"This instruction was carried out to the letter. He again, gave instructions that the boy inside the masquerade be bound hands and feet in the full glare of the congregation," Asogwa claimed.
This action, he said, enlisted the sympathy of both women and children at the confirmation ground who allegedly pleaded with the bishop to allow the masquerades go.
For having the temerity to want to intervene on behalf of the masquerades, the Councillor representing Nru community, Mr. Chinedu Iduoma, was allegedly also bound hands and feet on the orders of the bishop.
"As if these unwarranted provocations were not enough, His Lordship proceeded to take snapshots and video the masquerade", Asogwa, who is also of the Catholic faith, told Sunday Sun.
In his own account of the incident, the Cultural Secretary of Nru community, Mr. Joseph Asadu, said the matter has been reported the police and Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area.
"The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area, came down with his men and ensured that there was no counter-attack by the masquerades. It could have been a blood bath that day because this is simply a desecration of our custom and tradition," Asadu said.
Giving the Catholic Diocese's version, the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Father Anselm Asogwa admitted that the bishop actually ordered his congregation to unmask the masquerade but swiftly debunked the claim that the masquerades were merely passing by.
"What happened was that the "Ori-Okpa" masquerade pursued an Okada man right into the confirmation ground which caused a lot of distraction and commotion. With the much I know, and even in keeping with the tradition and custom they are protecting, the masquerade is prohibited from pursuing somebody right inside the place he or she ran to for protection," Rev. Father Asogwa said.
The priest said the bishop was provoked into taking the action just as he insisted that the masquerade violated the custom of the people.
"The Bishop did order the stripping of the masquerade because it was in violation. We did not know whether it was a human being or a spirit. Like I said, the much I know about culture, the masquerade had no right to pursue somebody right into the church. So, that was why it was stripped".
But the Traditional Ruler of Ihe-Owerre, Nsukka, Igwe John Attamah, would not buy any of the reasons advanced as a justification for the action of the bishop.
Attamah said "we are being harassed and disturbed by the Catholic priests engineered by the bishop. They should allow us feel free to practice our custom and tradition.
"It is a sacrilege. We don't interfere in any church activities. They shouldn't interfere with our custom and tradition. We want peace to reign in our community."
The present face-off is just one of the many confrontations the church has had with the community.
One of such instances was when a former parish priest of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (names withheld) was alleged to be having an affair with a married woman.
The matter was allegedly reported to the bishop with no action taken against the accused. He, however, later transferred the priest, which the community saw as a protective action.
Later, one Rev. Father Kevin Eze was sent to the parish and he endeared himself so much to the community with his pastoral works.
Bishop Okobo was to later transfer Eze against the wish of the community. The community protested, calling on the bishop to recall the priest or forget sending them another one. Till date, from Sunday Sun investigations, the parish is under lock and key, as the bishop chose the option of not sending Father Eze back to the parish.
Reacting to these allegations, the Cathedral Administrator of St. Theresa's Cathedral, Nsukka, Rev. Father Anselm Asogwa, said that he was not in a position to react to all the allegations, as he was not with the parish when the matter started.
He said all he would say was based on reports availed him as the Cathedral Administrator. He however said that after the posting of Father Eze from the parish in January 2005, the community demonstrated that they wanted the priest to remain, since they loved him and what he was doing for the parish.
"They carried placards, chanting that it was either Rev. Father Kevin Eze or no parish. As a result of that, the parish was closed down", Father Asogwa told Sunday Sun.
He said Rev. Father Kevin was still carrying out his priestly roles. "The only thing is that he is not is any parish. He was asked to go on vacation. He is free to celebrate masses and remains a priest of the diocese. Just that he no longer has a parish, that's all".