Sapele: Wonders it is often said, will never end as the monthly pastor’s Bible Study schedule to hold at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Sapele, Delta State ended in a fiasco when most of the pastors insisted that the Cathedral that has been abandoned by worshippers for over 15 months now due to the members resolved that the embattled Bishop Rt. Rev. B.A. Erifeta must be taken away from them is not a proper place for the bible study.
A source close to the Diocese said the clergies who were opposed to those loyal to the Bishop, who are mostly very junior priests, stood their ground insisting that they will not enter the abandoned, unkempt and desecrated cathedral building while querying the inability of the embattled Bishop to summon the courage to enter the building since the past 2 years.
The source added that all these led to heated argument amongst the clergy and thus “fighting erupted at the main entrance of the cathedral”, while it was also reported that the priest loyal to the Bishop allegedly invited one prominent member of the church in the bishop’s camp who came to break the padlock at the gate leading to the premises.
Our source concluded that the schedule bible study could not see the light of the day because over 65% of the priest left even before the fighting started, as a prominent clergy of the Diocese who pleaded anonymity stated that there was actually a fight between the pastors.
He stated that there was one Rev. Cannon Udi who actually kick started the quarrel that lead to the fight between the pastors, adding that there is an existing feud between the Pastors in the Diocese, while blaming the embattled Bishop, Rt. Rev. Blessing A. Erifeta, for causing the division in the house of clergy, pointing further that the Bishop has no regard for the Senior clergy and as such, He (the Bishop) likes using the junior clergies who are less than 6years in the
ministry in executing Diocesan matters.
The source alleged further that the junior clergy due to their closeness to the Bishop, operate with impunity remarking that they are very arrogant and boastful, as they threaten senior priest that tries to give them instructions or advice concerning their negative behaviours, while also alleging that there were allegations of adulterous activities against some junior pastors but the Bishop covered them up because they are his boys.
The Peoples Warden of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Mr. Oghenero Onojorhoewo, confirmed the report in a phone conversation, stating that the clergies actually fought according to the source, when they argued amongst themselves at the church porch on the western gate of the church as some insisted that the defied church must be consecrated first according to their Archbishop before it can be re-opened for normal worship while others allegedly belonging to the camp of the Bishop said it does not matter which led to their open fight and disgrace that aborted the bible study of the day.
One of the clergies at the centre of the drama on the said day, Rev. Otuogba however denied fighting allegation between himself and the man of God Rev. Ezewu, explaining that it was only an argument between both of them and never a fight as alleged by others, while concerted efforts were made to reach (Rev. Ezewu) but could not be reached even at his station at St. Peters Anglican Church Ogharefe for his own side of the story, on his alleged involvement in the fight.
The Vicar of the Cathedral, Ven. Oyibo Otemu explained that it was the Chairman Clergy Association, Ven. Oburoh Clement who first raised the motion that they should not enter the church which has not been consecrated and supported by Venerable Andrew Ayomanor of St. Peters Church, Mosogar, who was to make the bible presentation of the day as they both entered their vehicles and drove away before Rev. Otuogba and Rev. Ezewu engaged themselves in a heated argument over the matter which made the few clergies, those loyal to the Bishop who entered the cathedral earlier to make a retreat and went back home without
accomplishing the mission of the day.
