BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A Roman Catholic clergyman in Abakaliki Diocese, Ebonyi State, Rev. Fr. John Odey, has been suspended indefinitely for publishing a book titled, ‘The forbidden truth and clouds of witnesses: How Reverend Father Emmanuel Obuna ruled and crippled Abakaliki Diocese.’
The prolific writer, who had authored 45 books, launched the 46th book on October 23, following which he was suspended indefinitely from the Roman Catholic Priesthood on November 3.
Odey announced his indefinite suspension by the Bishop in charge of the Diocese, Peter Chukwu, in a telephone interview with The Point.
Meanwhile, some youths of the church had protested against Odey’s suspension in the early hours of Sunday.
The placard carrying youth converged on the main entrance of the Pastoral Centre Gate in Abakaliki, the state capital, resulting in traffic gridlock that lasted several hours in the area.
The aggrieved youth asked for justification for the indefinite suspension of the priest, alleging that he was being sanctioned for exposing the ills in the church under Bishop Emeritus Michael Nnachi-Okoro and his Secretary, Emmanuel Obuna.
Odey, who was tagged by many people in the community as ‘Chinua Achebe of Ebonyi State,’ was transferred from Abakaliki to his home parish in 2003 over series of heated sermons against government policies in state.
However, he was unrelenting on his stance against what he considered as the excesses in high places.
Reacting to the protest against his suspension, he said, “I don’t know the protesters. I have no idea in my life who they are. I didn’t send anyone to protest for me. I am not annoyed about the Bishop’s pronouncement against me. Anybody doing that is an enemy to me because people will soon say I sent the protesters.
“I just forwarded the message to the bishop; I don’t know those protesters. I was actually suspended on Wednesday, the 3rd day of November this year 2021 for saying the truth, but I am not angry.
“As long as I committed no crime, I am not worried about the indefinite suspension. Mine is to speak the truth and possibly die for it. The truth I speak about are not even for me but for the sake of those who have mouths but cannot speak. I write books to speak for the voiceless. As long as I have not committed any crime, I am not ashamed.
“I am only saying that things should be done the right way. The church is the last hope of the people and should be upright and just in all of its dealings. The bishop said the suspension is indefinite. You people should pray for the church in Abakaliki diocese. Pray that the church would do away with politics. It calls for serious prayers.”
Efforts to get comments from the Director of Information and Communication in the diocese, Rev. Fr. Henry Ogodo, on Odey’s suspension was not successful at press time.
