OHAKIM APOLOGISES OVER HUMILIATION OF CATHOLIC PRIEST

Okorie was arrested by the security aides on August 8 for allegedly obstructing Ohakim's motorcade along the Okigwe-Owerri Road.

Ohakim tendered the apology in a state-wide broadcast on Saturday, saying, “the unfortunate encounter was not to my knowledge''.

'It was not ordered by me and did not receive my blessing,' he added.

The governor admitted that as the chief security officer of the state, “it is my burden to take responsibility.' He said he had earlier tendered an 'unreserved apology' to the priest and the Catholic Church. Ohakim noted that himself, and some members of the State Executive Council had visited the Bishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna on the issue.

'That notwithstanding, I hereby once more tender an unreserved apology to Rev. Fr. Okorie, the Roman Catholic Church and to the entire Christians in Imo and Nigeria,' he said.

The governor explained that the priest was neither stripped of his cassock nor flogged by the security operatives. He admonished 'mischief makers' not to cash in on the unfortunate incident to inflame passion.

'Let me caution those who want to introduce religious or interdenominational war into an already crude politics of Imo to stop. Anybody or group that would provoke sectarian conflict in this state in the name of politics should regard himself as enemy of our people,' Ohakim said. (NAN)