Following the official announcement of Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, as the running mate to All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Governorship Candidate, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, in the November 6th election, there is serious disquiet among Anglican Bishops in Anambra State.
Anaedoonline.ng reliably gathered that some of the bishops are dissatisfied with the choice of Dr. Ibezim, who is the younger brother to the Archbishop, Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Revd. Alexander Ibezim.
According to reports, Archbishop Ibezim did not consult with other bishops when the Anambra Anglican Council of Bishops (Province of the Niger) was told to nominate a Deputy Governor.
Anaedoonline.ng learnt that Most. Rev. Alex Ibezim using his position as the Archbishop (Head of the Bishops in Anambra), nominated his younger brother, Dr. Ibezim, who is currently serving Governor Willie Obiano as Special Adviser on Indigenous Medicine and Herbal Practice and also doubles as the Managing Director of Anamba Oxygen Plant, and also the Executive Director of ANSACA, Anambra State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS.
A source preview to the development said that His Grace, Archbishop Ibezim was expected to have called a meeting with eight (8) other Anglican bishops in the state to make a decision, rather he kept them in the dark and forwarded the name of his younger brother.
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According to the source, the usual practice was that the bishops will sit and make a decision, then the person will be presented to His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Archbishop of Enugu Province for final approval, that was how it was done in the case of Mr. Emeka Sibeudu (Peter Obi’s Deputy) and Dr. Nkem Okeke (Willie Obiano’s Deputy).
It was gathered that some of the aggrieved bishops have taken their protest to Archbishop Chukwuma and are mulling the plan of visiting the Governor.
A close ally to one of the bishops who pleaded anonymity said that the bishops are no longer comfortable with Archbishop Ibezim who hijacked the Archbishop’s position against Bishop Samuel Ezeofor of Aguata Diocese and Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor of Amichi Diocese, who were supposed to have emerged as Archbishop based on Seniority.
It is not yet clear on what might be the next steps the bishops will take.
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