Archbishop Disputes Uzodinma’s Claims Against Religious Leaders’ Visit, Describes Report As False

The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Anthony Obinna has disputed the claim by the Imo State Government that the religious leaders who visited Governor Hope Uzodimma last week were on solidarity purpose.

In a statement by the Archdiocesan Secretariat of the Catholic Archdiocese in Owerri, the visit of the religious leaders to the governor was misrepresented by the Government House public enlightenment unit.

The statement said: “On October 19, a group of religious leaders in Imo State that had constituted themselves into a Special Bishops’ Committee on Peace in Imo State visited Uzodinma to share their findings on the reasons for the present high insecurity in Imo State and to present their recommendations for returning peace to a once very peaceful Imo State.

“A few days later, using a photograph of Uzodinma and religious leaders taken outside and after the meeting, the Imo State Public Enlightenment Office gave a false story about the visit with regard to the timing and the reason for the visit.

“It was neither a Sunday of prayers for Uzodimma and the entire people of Imo State” as the visit neither took place on October 19, a working day nor was it “a solemn solidarity visit.

“It was simply a working visit. Based on this false lead by the Imo State Public Enlightenment Office, other media outlets expanded the false narrative. Let the various media outlets concerned take note of this necessary correction”, the statement said.

While concelebrating a holy mass at the Assumpta Cathedral, for a special colloquium in his honour organised by the Owerri Grand Commandery and Ladies Auxiliary of the Noble Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI) and (LAUX), Obinna expressed his dismay about how the government house misrepresented their visit and promised to dispute their false claim.