Ozubulu Tragedy: 'If I Were The Catholic Bishop Of Nnewi Diocese,' By Monsignor Nathaniel Ndiokwere

As Written By Monsignor I. Nathaniel Ndiokwere

Preamble:
We were all saddened at the news of the events at Saint Philip’s Catholic Church OZUBULU, diocese of NNEWI, that looked like BOKO HARAM massacre of Nigerian Christians in churches as on the Christmas Day of 2011. As I ended the mass that Christmas day and was greeting the people at the church entrance/exit door, according to American customs and traditions at the end of every mass, one parishioner, who knew me well, shouted from the crowd: “Father! I hope you have heard what happened in your country, Nigeria!” “No Sir!”, I replied. “What happened?” I had not really listened to the news. But the friend recounted everything to me later. Something like “Are you here enjoying Christmas when Muslim Jihadists had finished your people in Nigeria!” These Americans know a lot about Nigeria, and as well ask a lot of questions.

Since the OZUBULU news exploded in the news media, with daily supply of details from individuals and groups, home and abroad, especially from South Africa, more than 25 versions of the same story have been recorded. But that is not our concern now; the social media have a lot of advantages, but as well same disadvantages, and like the cellphone revolution it can be abused and bastardized. Often, it is not easy to separate the wheat from the chaff. And as usual Nigerians are the first to blow the trumpet (not the whistle); cry bitterly more than the bereaved! However, at mass that day, we prayed for the victims of the OZUBULU massacre.

RE-OPENING OF ST PHILIP’S CHURCH OZUBULU: “IF I WERE THE CATHOLIC BISHOP”

Monsignor I. Nathaniel Ndiokwere 

Many people, home and abroad, as it seems, were surprised that the desecrated church had so soon been re-opened for service. Some expressed shock, as we also heard that some youths of OZUBULU, staged a protest rally, expressing their disapproval. “Why so soon?” They seemed to ask. “Is the period of mourning over?”

The Ozubulu massacre  is not a simple tragedy that has befallen alone, the catholic community of St Philip Catholic Church, or Ozubulu town, or Ekwusigo local government, or Anambra state government or even NNEWI Catholic diocese, or Onitsha ecclesiastical province! No! The entire Nigerian church and nation, together with universal church are involved. All the members of the mystical Body of Christ, the Church are involved. When any part of the body suffers the rest are equally grieving in pains. And for the IGBOS “Anya bewe, imi bewe.”

A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF MOURNING AND REPARATION

About ten of our Catholic priests I spoke to suggested that St Philip’s Catholic Church Ozubulu should have remained locked till next Christmas, as prayers and different acts of reparation went on in all parishes across the diocese and beyond. The time for the re-opening could be determined by the competent authorities, including the diocesan pastoral council. On the day of the re-opening of St Philip’s Ozubulu , big personalities should be invited to ‘grace the occasion’. They should include, government representatives at all levels, church dignitaries, including priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and pope’s representatives in Nigeria. Why can’t this very important church event  attract Mammoth crowd of prayerful sympathizes from, too, some non-catholic churches and assemblies?

After all, the funeral ceremonies of grandmothers and grandfathers of lawmakers and state governors, birthday celebrations of kingmakers and great millionaires, traditional and church weddings of daughters of Nigerian kings and chiefs, opening and blessings of houses, mansions, and estates of well-known figures in Nigerian politics, naming ceremonies of kids of great Nigerian Lords, attract unbelievable presence and number of priests, bishops, Apostles, Archbishops, Episcopal vicars, as well as pope’s representatives ! Not so!

CLEANSING OF A DESECRATED GOD’S TEMPLE- CHURCH

Why should the bishop of the Catholic diocese of NNEWI, unannounced, and just with a couple of ‘morning mass attendants’ (See photo), and a priest  sprinkle holy water in St Philip’s church in the name of ‘cleansing’ of the desecrated Temple of God! Why did he not even perform the ritual in a more solemn manner, which the occasion deserves! Wow! A special day of atonement was not accorded the desired flavor it deserved. It should equally be a day of rejoicing and celebration. The devil and enemies that came to sow seeds of discord in Ozubulu have  been chased away, vanquished! defeated!

DECLARATION OF PERIOD OF PRAYERS AND FASTING

There should have been in all parishes of NNEWI Catholic dioceses and beyond a declaration of period of NOVENA prayers and fasting, daily masses, in all, asking for God’s forgiveness for the atrocities that took place there. Special extended novena prayers for the dead, the injured, some still in intensive care unit in hospitals, others still recuperating in their sick beds. There should be Rosary processions along the streets and villages of Ozubulu. Daily or Sunday masses could be celebrated in village halls and in open squares. Why not? To show seriousness and efforts at reparation. At least non-Catholics and passers-by can say “See how they bemoan the iniquities of the present generation and those of our forebears!”

PRAYERS, too for the generous donor (“BISHOP”)

The builder of St Phillip’s Catholic Church Ozubulu, Mr Ikegwuonwu, ‘bishop’, as we have learnt from those close to him, deserves our sympathy and prayers, too. Individuals and commentators have freedom of speech, and surely Nigerians and NDIGBO in particular possess this liberty in abundance, to post anything on the social media, about the tragedy at Ozubulu! Is it not what I do so often? Whatever the case may be,  ‘bishop’ has our sympathy for all the embarrassment, his sworn enemies  have brought to him, and how they are painting his name in different disgusting colors, that of the family,  Ozubulu clan and NDIGBO in general, including those at home and those in South Africa, in search of greener pastures.

There are many millionaires in Igboland and Nigeria, who have and have not made significant donations or contributions to their communities’ development  or church! And surely few people have questioned their sources of income. There are many rich Igbos who have not cared about widows and the poor in our miserable communities. There are many of them who have acquired their wealth (no one knows how), but have never had the heart to offer scholarship to even primary school pupils in the village. “Bishop’ of Ozubulu, Ndo, for this tragedy! Only God knows it all!

FEW LESSONS FROM THE OZUBULU TRAGEDY

We should not mix up genuine heartfelt donations with ‘fake’ and ‘dubious’ ones . Fake and dubious donations in the simplest clarification of the terms, usually  come from politicians, and “business men”, whom we know that steal from public funds, and young Nigerians whose sources of astounding wealth come from fraudulent activities, which usually include Yahoo/419 trade and drug business. These can be distinguished from a third party donors, whose wealth is usually tinted with ‘the occult’. This third type, the church can conveniently avoid! By their fruits you shall know them!

“HOW CAN WE DIFFERENTIATE THE “BAD” from “RICH DONORS?”

Very very simple! “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7.15ff). Surely most of us, including common citizens, have come across good people who have contributed a lot to development and progress of humanity without any noise. They know that part of the scriptures that instruct that when you give charity “let your right  hand not know what the left is doing”.

But take note of characteristics of “BAD” donors:

(1)    If he is young Nigerian, and sprays money in public, in the air, often in flamboyant frenzy mood, and  in great bundles, including currencies of many nations, not minding their denominations! Not a few  ten-naira notes, for fun!  (fear this guy!)
(2)    ‘Spiritual’ life. If he is catholic, does he receive Holy Communion? Rich millionaire ‘ritualists’ and devil worshippers (Ndi Ogwu Ego) DO NOT approach the altar of the Lord!!! Does he go to confession? Have you seen him even once?
(3)    ‘Moral’ life. How many ‘wives and concubines?’
(4)    Do people fear him? Revere him? Respect him? (Not because of his wealth), but other virtues; honesty, truth, simplicity, peace-loving, kindness .
(5)    MOST IMPORTANT: Are “SOURCES OF INCOME” known and acknowledged by those who know him well?
(6)    About 95% of this class of rich people in question are known by even ordinary people and villagers .
NB. Sources of income of Westerners are known and they pay taxes according to their INCOME.

CONCLUSION: THE CHURCH AND THE RICH

We invite the rich, including the fraudulent ones to sponsor our  big cathedral and church projects, a relationship that can one day land the church into deep crisis. It can explode even many generations after ours! We seek the rich out; wherever they reside, at home or  overseas, and invite them to our launching ceremonies, to raise money for giant elephant church projects(never for the establishment of small-scale industries that can offer jobs to the youths!). If we are unable to capture them; we try imposing on them frivolous church titles in ‘absentia!’ If we are not satisfied with that measure to grab much of their wealth, we try crowning their young wives with unmerited ‘motherhood titles’. If the mothers are still alive, behold the biggest title awards in the history of the church in the century!

The sooner we learnt to cut our cloths according to our size, the better for the church in Igboland and Nigeria!  It doesn’t sound good to award the contract for our new, expensive, and gigantic  churches and cathedrals to single contractor or individual that bears the financial burden alone, while rest of the church community keep mute watching the ‘drama!’ There is need to stop embarking on big  projects that will consume millions we cannot afford. Often completed and dedicated, maintenance of the structures and big churches becomes a nightmare - leaking roofs, broken doors and windows! And behold a forest of cooling ceiling fans that stopped working only weeks after their installation. Like Nigerian roads, sooner they become death traps!

Our leaders and people must learn to built small village churches (not cathedrals) as you find in the Western world, that donate to us, in the impoverished third world!  Small beautiful churches that will withstand all forces of adverse climatic conditions are best. The church, parishes and dioceses should not embark on University or Institutions  of Higher Learning Projects, when we are unable to provide basic and befitting primary and secondary school  structures for our students. If we bite as much as we can chew, we remain safer and contented with what we can afford, instead of (as Igbos put it ‘rijuo afo ma dachie uzo), feeding so fat and dead on the road! MAY THE GOOD LORD PROTECT AND GUIDE US AND NEVER ABANDON US IN THE HOURS OF NEED!