Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State (right) condoling with the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev (Dr) Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji over the death of his younger brother, Athanasius Ugorji, at a burial Mass held at St. Jude Catholic Church, Naze, Owerri...Saturday.
Uzodinma has no issue with Catholic Church, Bishops, says Govt
Uzodinma has no issue with Catholic Church, Bishops, says Govt
Imo State Government has denied having any issue between Governor Hope Uzodinma and the Catholic Church.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, he emphasised that Uzodinma as a Christian of the Catholic faith holds the Church and its leadership in high esteem and therefore would not undermine their authority.
Emelumba noted that although the Church did not allow Governor Uzodinma to address the faithful with the Executive Seal of Government during the installation of Archbishop Lucius Ugorji last Thursday, he did not see it as a slight either on his office or authority.
“To demonstrate that His Excellency was not in anyway bothered by that incident, he went ahead to host the Apostolic Nuncio and other bishops that attended the ceremony to a State dinner, that same evening. So, there is no animosity to warrant the speculations of rift by the social media, particularly that of the opposition PDP,” the Commissioner said.
He noted that a personal opinion expressed by one of the governor’s appointees has since been retracted by the said individual.
According to Emelumba, “what the appointee expressed was her opinion and she has retracted same to show that Government has no hand in it. Any other appiontee expressing an opinion on the issue is doing so in a personal capacity.”
Emelumba said the Governor has deep respect, not only for the Church, but for all religious leaders and would always accord them their due.
He advised the media to learn to distinguish between Government official positions and mere personal opinion of some people who serve in government to avoid misrepresentation and misinformation.
