Simeon Okezuo Nwobi| File photo
‘His appointment ended the crisis which began in 2012, when the Catholics in Mbaise and their priests rejected the appointment of Bishop Peter Ebele Okpaleke’
By Valentine Amanze
At last, the Holy Father and head of Catholic church, Pope Francis I, has appointed the Most Rev. Fr. Simeon Okezuo Nwobi, C.M.F, as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of Ahiara in Nigeria.
With the development, Rev Nwobi is now the titular See of Rusgunie.
Mgr. Nwobi was born on March 25, 1960 in Eziama Oparanadim Ekwereazu in the Diocese of Ahiara.
After joining the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians), he undertook studies in Philosophy at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy Maryland, and later in Theology at Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu. He made his Perpetual Profession on September 11, 1988 and was ordained a priest on July 21, 1990 for his Congregation.
His appointment ended the crisis which began in 2012, when the Catholics in Mbaise and their priests rejected the appointment of Bishop Peter Ebele Okpaleke to succeed the late Bishop Chikwe in the Diocese.
Also read: Why we oppose ECOWAS’ military option in Niger crisis, by Catholic bishops
Okpaleke was anointed and consecrated bishop of the diocese by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 but both the Laity Council and the priests in the diocese rejected his appointed on the grounds that he is not an indigene and was not ordained in the diocese, among other reasons.
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