SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT: CATHOLIC CHURCH RESPONDS TO FAKE NEWS ON ITS STAND REGARDING THE 2023 GUBER ELECTIONS IN ABIA STATE

The Catholic Diocese of Aba has issued a stern warning to those seeking to mislead the public with deliberate disinformation on its stand regarding the 2023 guber elections in Abia State, particularly concerning the PDP guber candidate, asking such persons to stop circulating fake news.

The warning is contained in two related counter-disclaimers from the Catholic Diocese of Aba Special Communications Department and the Apostlate Via De Media, dated 6th March 2023 and signed by Rev. Fathers Chibuike Ekezie and Nwagbara Oliver Ikenna Respectively.

The Statement by Rev. Father Chibuike Ekezie (Director, Directorate of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Aba) made it clear that contrary to the propagandist narrative of mischief makers, the Catholic Bishop of Aba, His Lordship, Most Reverend Augustine Ndubueze Echema, NEVER wrote a disclaimer stipulating that he has not endorsed the candidature of Sir Okey Ahiwe, the PDP gubernatorial Candidate for Abia State.

On his part, Rev. Father Nwagbara Oliver Ikenna (Media Adviser to the Bishop of Aba Catholic Diocese) while emphasizing that such misleading messages purported to be coming from His Lordship are malicious fabrications, warned that “the author of such sordid and morbid messages should desist from such media fanaticism, as such mischievious scheme to rogue in the Catholic Church into partisan politics will be treated as fraudulent and the culprit must face the full weight of the law”.

It would be recalled that in the recent weeks leading to March 11, 2023 guber elections in Abia State, the candidature of Sir Okey Ahiwe of the PDP has received overwhelming support from various Units of his Church (the Catholic Church), including the revered Order of Knights of St John’s International of which he is a member, the Catholic Laity Council, Catholic Women Organization and the Catholic Youths Organization of Nigeria, to mention a few.

Obviously rattled by such unprecedented support also flowing from other religious bodies, town unions, labour unions, academic unions, market unions and countless socio-cultural organizations, it is fathomable that disgruntled opposition elements and their cyber urchins may have attempted to assuage their growing frustration by fabricating and circulating blatant fake news believing they could use the name of the venerated Bishop to discredit the towering image of Sir Okey Ahiwe. They will continue to fail!

Sir Okey Ahiwe wishes to assure of his utmost regards for the person and Office of His Lordship, Most Reverend Augustine Ndubueze Echema, Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, whose famous preeminence he respects and would never partake in any form of indulgence to denigrate. As a devout Christian of the Catholic Faith and a Knight of St. John’s International, he is avowedly committed to protecting the image of the Church and the Body of Christ from the shenanigans of partisan politics and he has already set an independent mechanism in motion to fish out the purveyors of serial fake news affecting the Church in the foregoing context.

Sir Ahiwe deeply appreciates everyone’s support and further assures that if elected Governor of Abia State, he would continue to exhibit the highest standards of discipline and humility while delivering good governance guided by conscience and the codes of global best practices.

Signed:

Victor Nwokocha
Special Assitant to Sir Okey Ahiwe
Media and Public Affairs
March 7, 2023

Noted. EluuuPeee all the way.

It is shameful that the Catholic Church could descend so low to be selecting candidates for the people. How can anybody still wish PDP on Abia state? . Pls keep them shut by voting massively for Alex Otti(LP).