Bishop Onaga decries blood-letting in South-East, urges caution

The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev (Dr) Calistus Onaga has expressed worry over the level of blood-letting in the South-East.

He decried, especially, politically motivated killings in the South-East zone, warning that anyone engaging in such an unholy act would never go unpunished.

Bishop Onaga spoke on Sunday while delivering a sermon during the thanksgiving mass to herald the empowerment programme of the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, Sir Kelvin Chukwu, at the Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu.

He particularly expressed dismay over the brutal murder of the Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Senatorial election in the state, Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, which led to the emergence of his younger brother and the incumbent Senator, Kelvin Chukwu, as well as the murder of the chairman of Ogbete Market Traders Association, Stephen Aniagu, among other killings.

Taking his sermon from the book of Mark chapter 13 vs 24 to 32, the Bishop urged Christians to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and forgives, stressing that every human being must give account of his sojourn on earth, hence the need to keep the commandments of God.

“So my dear brothers and sisters, let us always know that one day everyone of us will die and we do not know the hour or day.

“This is a period of reconciliation and going back to God. May God teach us forgiveness; the end will come and may we be conscious of this,” he said.

Speaking during the continuation of the event at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, UNEC, Chairman of the occasion and kinsman of Senator Chukwu, Dr. Ben Nwoye expressed sadness that the late Oyibo Chukwu was assassinated in cold blood during the 2023 electioneering process.

Nwoye, the immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State, who began his remark with a call for the observation of a minute silence for the late Oyibo Chukwu, described the event as democracy in action.

“I’m here to promote good governance. We are not here to talk about political parties.

“I am a member of the APC and my brother Senator Kelvin Chukwu is a member of the Labour Party so, what I have come here to do is to promote good governance,” he stressed.

In his speech, Senator Chukwu, expressed appreciation to members of the National Assembly NASS who had come to show him solidarity.

The Senator assured the people of his senatorial district of quality representation.

Also in attendance were Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, Senator Okey Ezea, representing Enugu North, Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, Rt Rev Daniel Olinya, Bishop of Eha-Amufu Anglican Diocese, among others.

Bishop Onaga decries blood-letting in South-East, urges caution