The former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, at the weekend dumped the Anglican Church where he wedded his wife Patricia about 30 years ago, following which the duo were subsequently joined in a second holy wedlock by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga.
But in a swift reaction, the Archbishop of Enugu Metropolitan Archdiocese, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Olisa Chukwuma, described Senator Nwobodo as an opportunist, adding that his exit from Anglican Church, is “good riddance to bad rubbish.”
In a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP, Dr, Chukwuma blamed the Catholic Bishop for not making any effort to find out why Senator Nwobodo decided to leave Anglican Church, accusing Dr. Onaga of having derailed from the spiritual guidance of members of Anglican Church.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and his wife Monica, sponsored Nwobodo and Patricia’s wedding in the Catholic Church in the discharge of requirements demanded by the Catholic Church. The marriage took place at the Bishops’ Court, Independence Layout, Enugu.
The governor thanked God for the successful wedding and prayed that the union grows from strength to strength.
In a sermon, Rev. Fr. Peter Damian Akpunonu, recalled the past cordial relationship between Senator Nwobodo and the Catholic Church especially when he was the governor of old Anambra State, adding that the long association informed the decision of Nwobodo to join the Catholic Church.
In a brief remark, Senator Nwobodo observed that he felt fulfilled having joined the Catholic Church fully, describing it as a home coming and a spiritual thing. He assured that he would remain in the church which he said he trusts and believes in.
However Archbishop Chukwuma said Senator Nwobodo left Anglican Church because he refused to accept the reality on the ground during the burial of his first son, Ifeanyichukwu, a medical doctor.
“We told him the truth and he (Nwobodo) refused to listen to the truth. We asked him to take care of his children, and he refused. When his first son died, his children decided to bury their brother in his (Nwobodo) compound, and the Anglican Church supported them, but he refused that his first son should be buried in his compound.
“We told him the truth, and he refused to listen to the truth, and so he went to the Roman Catholic Church where they will not tell him the truth. His exit from Anglican Church is good riddance to bad rubbish. We are not missing him. He is an opportunist and a greedy man”, said the fiery Anglican clergyman.