The recent call by the New Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye to Catholic faithfuls within and beyond the Diocese to join hands towards the completion of the Cathedral, have continued to generate alot of controversy, especially media attacks believed to be sponsored by the the Senator representing Anambra South in the Nigeria Senate, Ifeanyi Ubah.
The Cathedral which is believed to be single-handedly built by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah after he demolished the former cathedral collectively built by the Diocese, have been under construction in the last twelve (12) years.
The Cathedral project which over the years have continued to be a tool for political campaign by the Distinguished Senator, took a new twist, when an insider in the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, made a damning revelation about the humongous debt of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, which prompted the New Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, to take over the building of the Cathedral Church from Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Here are ten (10) things to know about Nnewi Catholic Cathedral Project;
1. Our Lady of Assumption Church Okwuani, Nnewi, is the Cathedral of Nnewi Catholic Diocese. As the Cathedral of the Diocese it has over one hundred and twenty churches and parishes under it. Our Lady of Assumption is the mother church of the Diocese and act as focal point for services, celebrations and seat of the Bishop.
2. In 2011, the then Bishop of the Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Hilary Paul Odili Okeke (Nna-Ora), decided to upgrade the Cathedral building which was built by the collective effort of Catholic faithfuls in Nnewi Diocese.
3. As part of efforts to give the Cathedral a befitting look, the Founder of Cutix Cables PLC, Chief Dr. Ajulu Uzodike, a renowned industrialist and a man known in Africa for his integrity and uprightness was appointed as the Chairman of the Cathedral Building Committee to oversee the renovation of the Cathedral with other members of the committee.
Nnewi Catholic Diocese Takes Over Construction Of Cathedral From Senator Ifeanyi Ubah
4. Prominent members of Catholic Diocese of Nnewi made donations for the renovation of the Cathedral. Calls we’re put across to several millionaires and billionaires within the Diocese and even beyond to donate funds for the renovation of the Cathedral Church.
5. On the day, the then Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capital Oil and Gas, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, came to the Cathedral, it was expected that he will make his own donation as others did, he surprised the entire congregation by promising that he will demolish the Cathedral and build a new one under seven (7) months.
6. Prominent Roman Catholic faithfuls within the Diocese kicked against the move and advised the then Bishop against accepting the offer. The Bishop bowed to pressure and invited Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah to ascertain his seriousness and financial capacity of fulfilling the promise, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah told the Bishop that he was financially capable to deliver the project with seven (7) months.
7. After months of delays, the gigantic Cathedral project kicked off at a slow pace. According to the prototype of the Cathedral, the project was supposed to be have;
1. 12m all round filled concrete foundation.
2. 36m underground evacuation.
3. 146 underground tombs.
4. 5-storey elevation.
5. Over 5,000 seating capacity.
6. Over 750 car parking capacity.
7. 8-storey bell tower
8. In 2017, when Ifeanyi Ubah was about to contest Anambra Governorship election, Bishop Odili Okeke called him and told him about his desire to ensure that the Cathedral is completed before his retirement, he informed Ifeanyi Ubah that he has barely five (5) years to retire and it will look embarrassing if the Cathedral is not completed before his retirement.
Ifeanyi Ubah told the Bishop that he was not financial buoyant due to the takeover of his company, Capital Oil and Gas by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, and also that he lost a lot of money during the reelection campaign of Goodluck Jonathan, where he spearheaded the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN)
He however reached an agreement with Bishop Okeke, a situation where the Bishop will pull money from the account of the Diocese to continue the Cathedral project and later Ifeanyi Ubah will refund the Diocese when he eventually raise the money.
9. This arrangement continued till 2020. As at 2020, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah was owing the Diocese over N200M, although at some point, he refunded some part of the money, but as at December 2021, the figure still stood at over N200M.
UNDERSTANDING THE FRUSTRATIONS OF AN OUTGOING SENATOR – PART 3.
In 2021, When it was becoming clear that Ifeanyi Ubah was no longer financially capable of completing the Cathedral due to his indebtness to the Diocese, Bishop Okeke who was already frustrated as he had barely two (2) years to retirement started making appeal to individuals to ensure that at least the Cathedral is roofed before his exit. Prominent Roman Catholic like Chief Cletus Ibeto, Chief Innocent Chukwuma (Innoson), Chief Sir. Louis Izuchukwu Carter Onwugbenu and donated millions of naira, which took care of the roofing of the Cathedral and also building of the alter.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in his usual deceitful manner mobilized his media urchins, and made several publications both on Social media and print media claiming that he was building the Cathedral.
10. When Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye took over from Bishop Okeke, he expressed his desire that he will love to have the Cathedral completed within a year. The account and finance department of the Diocese informed him about the debt of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. The Bishop directed that the debt should be cancelled that it was already clear that the Cathedral was being built with the money of the Diocese and not by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
TEN INDISPUTABLE SECRETS ABOUT OUTGOING SENATOR, IFEANYI UBAH THE WORLD MUST BE AWARE OF – PART ONE.
On the day of the installation of Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye, Chief Sir. Dr. Cletus Ibeto (Omekannaya) promised the Bishop that he will help in mobilizing other prominent Roman Catholic within the Diocese and beyond to ensure that the Cathedral project is completed with the stipulated timeframe of the Bishop.
Angered by the move, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah have continued to launch media attack on Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye, the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi and Chief Cletus Ibeto.
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