The recent election of Ven. Prof. Sam Ike, an Anambra native, as the new Bishop of Enugu Diocese has ignited a storm of protests and widespread outrage among the indigenes of Enugu State.
Held on August 13, 2024, in Abuja, the election has been met with strong opposition, with claims that the process was neither fair nor representative of the people’s will.
In a petition penned by Kingsley Okah, a justice advocate representing the people of Enugu, it was asserted that the election outcome reveals the church’s disregard for fairness and justice.
The petition accuses Ven. Prof. Ike of being a mere puppet of retired Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, who allegedly faced issues during his tenure in Enugu.
This controversy is similar to the rejection of Bishop Peter Okpaleke, an Anambra native, by the Ahiala Diocese of the Catholic Church in Imo State some years ago.
Protesters argue that the Anglican Church has repeatedly marginalized the people of Enugu, pointing out that the first bishop of Enugu was from Anambra and the immediate past bishop hailed from Asaba.
The petition demands that the church hierarchy revisit the election outcome to uphold fairness and justice.
It also warns of potential legal actions and hints at adopting strategies similar to those used by the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, which successfully rejected Okpaleke, who was later appointed Bishop of Ekwulobia in Anambra State and elevated to Cardinal by Pope Francis.
The controversy has triggered heated debates on social media, with many urging the church to heed the concerns of the Enugu indigenes and ensure that justice prevails in its decision-making processes.
