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  • Full Text Of Address By Rev Fr Emma Eroh At The University Of Calabar 2022 Solemn Assembly

    Full Text Of Address By Rev Fr Emma Eroh At The University Of Calabar 2022 Solemn Assembly

    UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, SOLEMN ASSEMBLY HELD ON THE 17TH OF JANUARY 2021.
    THEME: HEAL OUR LAND O LORD 2CHR 7:14
    MINISTER: REV. FR. EMMA EROH

    DEPARTURE:
    I must commend the VC of Unical and her team for trusting and having faith in the power and place of prayers in transforming Unical. It is a noble venture to put a pause to the entire school activities in order to seek the face of God to heal us, our land and bless us. It is my prayers that your reign shall leave indelible Mark’s on the sands of Unical and restore the perforated glory of Unical and stem the trouble in our land in Jesus name Amen. Indeed with God all things are possible Mk 10:27.

    SOLEMN ASSEMBLY
    The bible records myriads of instances where the entire community or nation resorted to prayers either to avert calamity or seek for God’s mercy and healing . In Deut 16: 8 the Lord commanded for a solemn assembly of prayers and impacting God’s blessings on his people. Lev. 23:36 emphasised restraint from work as a critical aspect of a solemn assembly inorder that the significance of the day may impact the people.
    In 2Chron 7:9 solemn assembly preceded the dedication of Solomon’s famous temple in Isreal, where the Lord promised ” to hear their cry and heal the land” 2Chron 7:13- 18. Healing is therefore pivotal and central to the life of a child of God.
    Similarly, King Jehu called a solemn assembly of all the prophets of Baal and exterminated them all and freed Isreal from idol worshipping and charms cf 2kgs 10:18-25. This solemn assembly is not to kill perpetrators of evils, those having a romance with charms and juju men, those using evil powers to influence authorities in their favours etc. No, the target is rather to bring God’s mercy, repentance, blessings and healing on our school via a change of attitude or conversion.
    Prophet Joel in Chap 14:2 called an assembly for prayers inorder to avoid impending doom and anarchy, this is why this conglomeration of various minds and hearts is not only pertinent but crucial, to save our community from doom and bless our Land.

    WHAT IS A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.
    Solemn assembly is a time for conversion that comes from the heart. It is a moment of casting back your mind to where you have failed and asking for a change of heart.
    In our lead text 2Chro 7: 14 – 18, the Lord stated unequivocally,
    IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, HUMBLE THEMSELVES, PRAY, SEEK MY FACE, TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.

    The Lord knows that some of us have abandoned the path of righteousness and humility and are wearing the unenviable toga of pride. We invent our own roles and circumvent laid down principles for success. We have become demi gods that should be worshipped because of the positions God gave us. We have even become untouchable and when we are no longer relevant in that aspect. We have over bloated ego and look down on others. The Lords demands humility as a prerequisite for healing. In Mark 2:1-12, Before the Lord healed the paralytic man he first forgave his sins. This means that sin is an obstacle to God’s healing mercies. The sin of pride can suffocate God’s healing power. Lev 26 :4 humble yourself so that the Lord will bless you. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. James 4:6-10. In humility count others as better than yourself. Phil 2:3-8, Clothe yourself in humility. Col.3 12-13. God’s divine purpose is to forgive you and heal not only you but your land.

    PRAYERS: Prayers is a vital link with God that can never be over emphasised. Prayer is the key that opens all doors. It is the most powerful weapon on earth, it surmounts that seemingly insurmountable issue; sickness, marital problems, addictions, family scores etc. There’s power in prayers. We can make very little progress without prayers. It is prayers that will catapult us to where we ought to be and rain down God’s blessings of healing and fruitness on us all. We cannot stand up in prayers with grievances against one another and expect God to answer us. That’s why the next stage is pertinent.

    SEEK GOD’S FACE.
    Seeking God’s face entails total commitment in the things of God and abhorrence of worldliness. It is turning away from carnality and the pleasures of the world and submerging yourself into the ocean of God’s mercy that provokes healing. He invites you “come to me all who are over burdened and heavy ladened, and l will give you rest. Matt 11:28. Some of you are labouring under a heavy burden and life is now consistent pain and emptiness devoid of happiness. God’s healing power shall bring RESTORATION. Seek the Lord and you will find him Lk 11:9-10. When you seek me you will find me. Jer 29:13. Those who seek the Lord shall be blessed Ps 69:32. Again, Ps 34:4-5 states ” there shall be deliverance and removal of shame for those who seek the Lord. And the Lord shall save them. Beloved in Christ, this is the time to seek the Lord and activate his power of healing.

    TURN FROM WICKED WAYS. Heb. 6:1.
    Wickedness in the land attracts God’s punishment on his people, but turning away from wickedness brings forgiveness and healing. This Solemn Assembly is a call for repentance, healing and invoking God’s blessings and His ineffable graces on His children. There are aspects of our lives that we need to turn away from.

    AREAS FOR HEALING
    It is essential as those in the academia and adminstration to exhume our consciences which we interred long ago .
    In an academic environment like this, they are some who live a life of debauchery ( like the prodigal son), dissoluteness, turpitude, depravity,loudness, rakishness,perversion, libertinism, immodesty, indecency, impropriety, immorality and lasciviousness cf 1Cor 6:9-11, Gal 5:19-21, Rev 22:15, like the prodigal son, there is absolute need to beat their comatose consciences back to life. We need the healing rays of God to shine through our lives and make us new.

    STUDENTS – SOLEMN TARGETS
    Let me begin the process of disentombment of consciences with students. Your main target here is to excel in academic and MORALS or character and learning, you need solemn focus to fulfill your dreams and face the challenges of the modern world, so why distract yourselves, you need God’s healing mercy on some of your life styles like
    – parties and clubbing
    -cultism
    -fashion
    -immorality
    – cohabitation
    – ambassador of nudity
    -prostitution etc
    You need a solemn focus, and l am convinced you can make it. Some of you have incurred alot of sicknesses because of your lifestyle. God shall completely heal and deliver you in Jesus name Amen. Listen to God speaking to you.

    LECTURERS: SOLEMN CONSCIENCES.
    1. Lecturers who are not committed to their duties need healing.
    2. Those who frustrate students need God’s mercy
    3. Those who lack self control and shamefully romance with their students need healing.
    Hope you realize that you have female children too. Whatever a man sows, that shall he reap. Gal 6:7-8.
    5. Some extort poor students thereby pushing them into different vices.
    6. I heard some fraternise native doctors for charms and amulets. All to gain favour.
    7. Some deliberately scheme to out smart their colleagues and engage in ” pull him/her down syndrome ”
    8. Tribalism and nepotism is said to be a stumbling block to academic excellence. The bile and bitterness in our system need to be healed for absolute blessings from God.
    Hear What the Lord said.
    Eph 14: 19 pursue peace and what makes for mutual up building.
    1Theas 4:18 encourage one another with helpful words.
    Eph 4:13 Eschew all kinds of bitterness wrath, anger, malice, slander etc

    ADMINSTRATIVE STAFF
    – SOLEMN ACCOUNTABILITY.
    The Administrative staff are the engine room and drivers of the University system. It is inundated and saturated with recklessness, sloth, envy, scheming,, we need the healing mercy of God inorder to prosper. You have to be committed to your task and be transparent about it knowing that it is Lord whom you are serving.
    Be truthful in all your dealings. We need God’s healing mercy in the areas of insincerity, eye service, condoling evil, setting each other up etc. Let us ask for God’s mercy and healing.

    PROFESSORS- SOLEMN MENTORSHIP.
    Professors are revered, erudite, cultivated, collegiate, cerebral, cultured, refined, polished, primed and apprized intelligentsia.
    My worry is that we are not getting solemn mentorship emanating from your desk. The anger and bitterness you cast into the system, does not befit the trajectory of your meteoric but painstaking rise to the apex of your career. You need to collaborate with the VC to give her best to the school. We too need divine healing and mercy.

    VC – Solemn Leadership.
    Even in the University system, they are politicians who daily gravitate around the orbit of power. The churn out stories putting the VC at loggerheads with imaginary enemies. The VC should be mindful of this ” tick skinned men and women”, who feel that it is our turn to eat. Keep them far away from you. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free Jn 8:32.
    Prov 29:2 When the righteous are in power the people rejoice but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.
    Madam VC
    Be firm but courteous
    Be strong but modest
    Be gentle but wise
    Be focused but consultative
    Be an Amazon, but battles are won with a coterie of wise men/ women.
    Be powerful but remember power is ephemeral. We are yesterday’s children.
    In an academic environment like this, they are some who live a life of debauchery ( like the prodigal son), dissoluteness, turpitude, depravity,loudness, rakishness, perversion, libertinism, immodesty, indecency, impropriety, immorality and lasciviousness cf 1Cor 6:9-11, Gal 5:19-21, Rev 22:15, like the prodigal.son, there is absolute need to beat their comatose consciences back to life. This is the focus now.

    EFFECTS OF GOD’S HEALING
    There are myriads of blessings that we will enjoy as effects of God’s healing of our Land
    – Divine favours and promotions.
    – Grooming a future generation that we will be proud of.
    – improved standard of education
    -integrity in our system
    – Divine prosperity and upliftment
    – spirit of contentment
    – witnessing to God by our lifestyle
    – physical healing of our ailments.
    – Blessing on our children to make us proud etc.

    CONCLUSION
    When the prodigal son in Luke 15 :17 realized he had been on the wrong path, he made a  u-turn and headed back home to repair the damage he had done in order to activate God’s healing. He received more than he ever bargained for – royal welcome in an atmosphere of abundance.
    2Chr 7 : 14 This is a call for national or corporate repentance. If we have dishonoured God’s name by our deeds, we must accept the punishment for our sin( every sin has its wages)
    1. You must humble yourself
    2. Pray for the removal of judgement due to sin
    3. Seek God’s face
    4. Renounce you sin and turn from evil ways.
    This will provoke communal mercy;
    -Forgiveness of Sins
    -Conversion
    -Healing of the Land.

    It is our turn now to renounce our sins humbly and activate God’s healing of our land and RESTORATION of then glory of our UNICAL. Let God’s will and reign be established in our school in Jesus name Amen.
    -BLESSINGS
    The Lord Shall promote you in Jesus name
    The Lord shall heal you in Jesus name
    The Lords mercy shall locate you in Jesus name.
    Your dreams shall be fulfilled in Jesus name,
    Evil hands and eyes shall not see you in Jesus Name,
    UNICAL shall be great again in Jesus name,
    God’s hand shall be upon you in Jesus name,
    Your families shall be blessed in Jesus name,
    Your offices shall be blessed
    Our Land shall be blessed in Jesus name.

  • Ogoja Diocese Releases Programme Of Events For The Centenary Celebration

    Ogoja Diocese Releases Programme Of Events For The Centenary Celebration

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Catholic Diocese of Ogoja has released a programme of events as streamlined for the centenary celebration.

    In a release signed by the Director of Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Emma Eroh indicates that the Liturgical Commission Chairman, Very Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Omang will manned the diocesan retreat scheduled for March, 2021, while the Bishop, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Edet Akpan will visit deaneries for Cathedraticum and possible encounter with institutions, both church and circular.

    The release reads in parts “March 2021:
    Diocesan retreat with the same programme for the entire diocese to be manned by the chairman of the Liturgical Commission, Very Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Omang and
    Bishop’s visit to deaneries for Cathedraticum and possible encounter with some institutions both Church and secular.

    “APRIL PROGRAMME:
    Religious profession of the Sister of Notre Dam (24th of April).

    “MAY PROGRAMME: 8th – 16th.

    “May 8th: Priestly ordination

    “Monday 10th May, 2021:
    Centenary Baptism of at least one hundred candidates drawn from all the parishes in the diocese.
    Laying of the foundation stone in the New Cathedral site. There is a possibility of cultural display in the course of this event.

    “Tuesday 11th May, 2021:
    Confirmation of at least hundred candidates drawn from all parishes in the diocese.

    “Wednesday 12th May, 2021:
    Bishop’s centenary visit to selected places such as the Nigerian Correctional Centres, orphanages, refugees settlements, the oldest diocesan school, old Catholics who can no longer go to Church, etc.

    “Thursday 13th May, 2021:
    Mass wedding of no less than hundred proposed couples drawn from all parishes in the diocese.
    Arrival of invited bishops

    “Friday 14th May, 2021:
    10am: Centenary lecture entitled: Recreating the Early Missionary Spirit in the Nigerian Modern Evangelization/presentation of awards
    The proposed paper presenter: His Excellency, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Ugorji
    Proposed Paper Moderator: Sir Col. Paul Edor Obi
    Main discussants:
    Rev. Fr. Dr. Uche Obodo Echina
    Very Rev. Fr. Everastus Bassey
    Sir Dr.Bob Eriom
    Prof. Francis Ganyi
    Launching of history book. Conferment of Monsignors to Ogoja diocesan priests from 65 years of age and above
    Conferment of awards on:
    Selected Ogoja sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in supporting the Church in the diocese
    Best and exemplary couples.
    Outstanding catechists
    6pm: Vesper/investiture of awardees during the Gala Night

    “Saturday 15th May, 2021
    10am: Investiture of Catechists.

    “Sunday 16th May, 2021
    Thanksgiving Mass/public presentation of awardees”

  • Director of Communication, Ogoja Diocese Gives Insight Into The Centenary Celebration.

    Director of Communication, Ogoja Diocese Gives Insight Into The Centenary Celebration.

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Director of Communication of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Eroh in this interview, gave insight into the much talked about centenary celebration of the diocese of Ogoja.

    Below is the except of the interview.

    Rev. Fr. Emma Eroh is the parish priest of St. Joseph parish, Okuku and the Director of Communication of the Catholic diocese of Ogoja.

    Fr. Eroh gave a run down of the growth of the church from 1921 to date with the impacts created by the Church to include schools, hospitals and parishes spread across the diocese of Ogoja.

    On the significant of the centenary celebration, Fr. Eroh held that “The Centenary is the commemoration of the arrival of the missionaries in Ogoja in 1921, when our ancestors first received the good news and provided a fertile ground for the planting of the Catholic Church, from which it has grown into a diocese and in fact it has given birth to diocese of Abakiliki in 1978. We are celebrating these great moments and achievements in the entire diocese.

    “There are series of activities streamlined to mark the centenary. It was kicked off on the 2nd of February, 2021 with the lighting of the centenary candle by His Excellency, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Akpan, Bishop of Ogoja Diocese.
    March next month, we will have a diocesan and parish retreat. His Lordship will be visiting various parishes in the 10 deaneries that makes up the diocese.

    “The climax will be in May, where they will be baptism of 100 candidates and confirmation of 100 candidates all drawn from across the diocese.

    “On the 12th of May, His Lordship will visit the correctional centre, orphanages, the refugees settlements, old catholic schools and aged catholic members who can no longer come to church.

    “The 13th of May will feature the wedding of 100 couples, while the the 14th of May will be a centenary lecture by Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Ugorji, (Bishop of Umuahia Diocese) and Vice President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), lunching of a book that chronicled the achievement of the diocese as well the conferment of the tittle of Monsignori to deserving priests and papal and diocesan awards to some of the lay faithfuls who have contributed to the growth of the diocese.

    “The hallmark of the celebration will feature the ordination of Priests.

    On the growth of the church since inception, Fr. Eroh noted that “there have been a great transformation from that little seed sowed. St. Benedict Primary School, Igoli was established and parishes created, we have 89 parishes and 12 quasi parishes, what we call the Roman Catholic Mission (RCM).

    “The first indigenous priest was ordained in 1965, now His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Ukpo Rtd. (The Emeritus Archbishop of Calabar). Today, we have over 120 priests in the diocese.

    “The Bishop in his ingenuity in collaboration with the priests, is developing the land for the building of a new cathedral as unanimously agreed by priests and lay faithfuls. In terms of health and education, we have hospitals and schools spread across the diocese. In communication, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Ukpo, the pioneer priest of the diocese, berthed the Message Newspaper.

    “Bishop Donatus came in with the new vigor and his drive for agriculture has led to the formation of Ogoja Diocesan Agricultural Investment Programme (ODAIP)”.

    When asked to juxtaposed the disposition of our fore fathers to the gospel with today’s Christians.

    Fr. Eroh averred that “We must thank our fore fathers who received the message and gave away their traditions to imbibe it and passed it on to their children. We must commend Christians in Ogoja diocese, that this seed that was planted has grown and is still spreading like wild fire up till now. Though there exist some challenges of Pentecostalism, were some Christians are in dare need of instant miracles and prosperity and other traditional practices, but we are not where we used to be”.

    When asked what Monsignori means in the church.

    Fr. Eroh held that “Monsignori is a title of honor conferred on deserving senior priests who have live creditable and impacted positively in the lives of Christians, and must be at least 65 years of age. It is conferred by the Pope through the nomination of the Bishop. Some of our very senior priests will be conferred with the tittle”.

    When asked to comment on the allegation of using TTC Ogoja as a take off for the proposed state Polytechnic, the communications Director stated that “I can confirm to you that there is no dialogue between the state government and the diocese in terms of turning TTC into anything Polytechnic.

    “What I can categorically say is that TTC is about being turned into an Institute of Health Management and Technology, work has gone far, consultation has been made, Provost has been appointed along with an Acting Registrar.

    “A Post Graduate Diploma programme affiliated to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka is going on there at TTC.

    “We were going for a full flesh university, but when we checked our resources, we realized we were not going to be able to run a university, we were advised to begin an Institute that will later metaphors into a full flesh university”

    Fr. Eroh used the opportunity to call on Catholics especially and all Christians across the globe to join the diocese of Ogoja in this auspicious celebration. He assured that the celebration will be live streamed for those who will not make it to attend and in observance of the Covid-19 protocols.

  • Fr. Titus Armon’s Arrest, Detention, Release and Matters Arising!

    Fr. Titus Armon’s Arrest, Detention, Release and Matters Arising!

    By Elijah Ugani

    The media space has been inundated lately with the disgusting story of the arrest of Fr. Titus Armon, the Assistant Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Parish, Abuochiche, Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, just after the much celebrated #EndSARS protest that was hijacked by hoodlums that led to the looting and destruction of properties across the country.

    As a devote Catholic of the Ogoja Diocese, I joined the crusade in my personal capacity to question the rationale behind Fr. Titus arrest, as well as the advocacy for his unconditional release.

    Thank God Fr. Titus was released unconditionally on the intervention of the team sent by the Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Edet Akpan, led by the Vicar General Admin, Rev. Fr. Peter Obele Abue.

    Being curious to know what led to Fr. Armon’s arrest, I contacted the team lead and Vicar General Admin, and he assured me that the Director of Communications of the Diocese, Fr. Emma Eroh was going to reach me on developments.

    I consistently called and Fr. Emma Eroh perhaps hurriedly sent me a WhatsApp massage, stating that an #EndSARS video was shared from Fr. Titus’s phone being the alleged reason for his arrest, and I immediately published same without premeditation.

    However, the Director of Communications, Issued a press release and published same on his Facebook page, which supersede any other statement credited to him, where he fingered the Governor, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade to be responsible for the arrest of Fr. Titus.

    A perusal of the release by Fr. Emma Eroh, necessarily demands the Media Aides of the Governor as mater of necessity to address all the issues raised by the said press release that accused the Governor to have masterminded Fr. Titus arrest, they are busy copying my publication, which is subservient to the later press release by the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja.

    Someone should help me tell the Governor’s media aides to address the issues raised by the Director of Communication of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja alleging the Governor’s involvement in the arrest of Fr. Titus Armon.

    Let the aides of the Governor gather and do a combined rebuttal of the said allegations, or if they are wangling in guilt, they should apologize to the priest and the diocese.

    Until we see a strong worded rebuttal of Fr. Emma Eroh’s press release, addressing all issues raised, I’m also tempted to share the sentiment that Fr. Titus arrest was masterminded.

    The public is hereby advised to disregard any document shared other the one shared by the Director of Communications, Fr. Emma Eroh.

    Elijah Ugani is
    The Editor-In-Chief/Publisher of
    www.theluminenews.com

  • Sir Ben Ayade Owes His Home Diocese Detailed And Unreserved Apology If Religion Means Anything To Him – Emma Eroh

    Sir Ben Ayade Owes His Home Diocese Detailed And Unreserved Apology If Religion Means Anything To Him – Emma Eroh

    By Admin

    The Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, Very Rev. Fr. Emma Eroh, has stated that the Governor of Cross River State, Sir Ben Ayade who is a Knight of the Catholic Church owes his home diocese detailed and unreserved apology if religion means anything to him.

    The cleric made this known in a press release where the Governor is fingered to be responsible for the Gestapo arrest and detention of Rev. Fr. Titus Armon.

    The release indicates that the Department of State Security and by extension, the state Governor, Sir. Ben Ayade who is a Knight of the Catholic Church owes his home diocese a detailed and unreserved apology, if religion means anything to him.

    The release reads in full:

    “KNIGHT GOV. BEN AYADE, FR. TITUS ARMON AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

    “The arrest and release of a Catholic Priest of Ogoja Diocese, Fr. Titus Armon by men of the Nigerian Army (29th Oct 2020) at the behest of the Department of State Security in Cross River State is in the public domain with neatly parcelled versions in favour of their pay Masters. We are not interested on whoever wants to make political gain and capital from this event but rather appalled at the manner and style of the Department of State Security. Are they licensed to kill?

    “It is pertinent to underline the fact that a Catholic priest is not immuned from obeying the laws of the land, however there is a more honourable path for security agencies to tow in the planning, interpretation and eventual execution of their script. I find them culpable and negligent in the Gestapo style the gentleman was arrested without prior invitation. It is despicable, preposterous, dehumanising and traumatic at all layers.

    “The State Department of State Security and by extension the State Governor, His Excellency Sir. Ben Ayade ( who is a Knight of the Catholic Church) owes his home diocese a detailed and unreserved apology, if religion means anything to him.

    “Fr. Titus Armon was in his room when two gun trottling Army men entered and demanded that he descends downstairs to speak with their boss who was in the car, his attempt to put on his cassock was rebuffed and he was dragged down like a common thief and emptied forcefully into the waiting Hilux van.

    “The journey from Abuochiche in Bekwarra to Calabar which lasted over five hours in the midst of unknown men with intermittent interrogation was hellish. He spent the night at the detention facility in Akim Army Barrack before his eventual relocation to SSS detention facility. His crime: he allegedly originated an ENDSARS protest video traced to his phone.

    “Nelson Mandela posted years ago, ” to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”. The onus is on the government to accord us freedom of expression and to respect the dignity of its citizens and walk the path of due diligence especially post ENDSARS era. Is the Cross River State government imbibing any lesson?

    “Besides, Fr. Titus Armon works in a reputable, ubiquitous and time tested religious organisation where Gov. Ayade prides himself as a worthy Knight, was it not proper to inform the bishop of the diocese? Are the words of Robert Mitchin true of our Governor? ” There are three times in a man’s life when it’s useless to hold him for anything; when he is madly in love, drunk or having an exalted political office. Could all these three be working in favour of the Governor? If a Catholic Priest can be so recklessly treated, what’s the assurance for others?

    “Gov. Ben Ayade should be reminded that no one has ever won the Catholic church in a battle. Can Gov Ayade change the pages of history where emperors and kings could not succeed. This is a tall dream.

    “The handlers of the Governor must eschew the art and mastery of psychophancy which flows in their veins and face reality, you dont play politics with peoples’lives. His multi-layered media aides whose importance originate from being in the periphery of power and having food on their tables, ought to know this drama is a bad omen. Our beloved Governor should be reminded that of the timeless words of Richard Harns “THE MOST DINSTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCEESFUL POLITICIANS IS SELECTIVE COWARDICE”. Will they have the gumption to do the needful, the answer lies in the womb of time.

    “Fr. Emma Eroh is the Director of Communication,
    Catholic Diocese of Ogoja.”

  • Suspend Sir Benedict Ayade KSJI, For Desecrating The Church – First Baba Isa

    Suspend Sir Benedict Ayade KSJI, For Desecrating The Church – First Baba Isa

    By Admin

    An Abuja based right lawyer and a devote Catholic, Mr. First Baba Isa Esq. has called on the leadership of the Catholic Church to suspend Governor Ben Ayade who happens to be a Knight of the Catholic Church for desecrating the church, by sending soldiers to humiliate, torture and embarrass a priest.

    Isa made the call at his verified Facebook account @FirstBabaIsa, urged the church to immediately suspend the knighthood of Governor Ben Ayade among other things.

    Find the call in full:

    “SIR BENEDICT AYADE; THE KNIGHT WHO DESECRATED HIS CHURCH

    “I just read a statement issued by Rev Fr Emma Eroh, the Director of Communications in the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja; and that statement puts the responsibility of the arrest and detention of a Catholic Priest, Rev Fr Titus Armon, squarely on Governor Ayade, who happens to be a Knight of the Catholic Church.

    “Before the Governor and his merchants of propaganda and hellfire-bound liars come out to deny this as I have seen them do in many instances like in the case of Agba Jalingo, Ifere Paul, Joseph Odok, etc., let me say that I’m terribly appalled that I have lived to see a day where a Knight of our Church will humiliate, torture and embarrass a priest like this.

    “The purpose of the Catholic Knighthood is to have men and women who will defend the Church; not in taking up arms but in how they conduct themselves, uphold the doctrines of the Church and revere the sacraments and the clergy.

    “I was an Altar Boy, who even became the President of the entire Altar Boys Association of Ogoja Diocese. All my life I have lived with Reverend Fathers. Heck, I wanted to be one. They are not perfect but they are highly respected because of their learned, calm, peaceful and godly disposition to life generally.

    “Today, we have a Catholic faithful who became a Governor, a Governor who became a Knight of the Catholic Church and that Knight sent soldiers to arrest a Catholic Priest in his church; they dragged him without even allowing him the dignity of wearing his cassock. They lifted him up and threw him inside a waiting van and drove him for over 7 hours to Calabar. They locked him up for over 24 hours without access to his lawyers or anyone.

    “This one is on the church. The Governor is a tyrant, we know that already. He is called “Little Napoleon” in some quarters. We know this already. So, this one is on the church. How will the Church respond to this.

    “Issuing a press statement is a good place to start but that is not enough. The church should not dismiss this as a case of turning the other cheek. The church must take action.

    “Firstly, the church should immediately suspend the knighthood of Governor Benedict Ayade. We don’t want to belong to a church where a Knight will abuse the fundamental rights of a priest and go scot free.

    “Secondly, the governor, the army and the SSS should be taken to court immediately. Nobody is above the law, not even a Catholic Priest. If Fr Titus committed an offence that warrants an arrest, I will be the first to call for his arrest. But in this case he has done nothing wrong.

    “He was arrested in place of his brother who is also a Catholic priest. And for what? Because his phone was used to post, allegedly by his brother, an #EndSARS video? That is not an offence. Both of them did nothing wrong.

    “Knowing the Governor, I can tell you for free that this has nothing to do with #EndSARS. This is how the Governor operates: whenever he wants to arrest and intimidate his critic, he will make it look as if the Federal Government is involved. Soon, he will come out to tell us how he does not control the army or the SSS and how #EndSARS is a Federal Government issue. We all saw this script play out in Agba Jalingo’s case.

    “Let the fundamental human rights of Fr Titus Armon, and even that of Fr Ghesu Armon, be enforced. Let the Governor and all his law enforcement conspirators pay for this. Let the church make them pay.

    “The church should also stop participating actively or passively in the misgovernance going on in Cross River State. You have donated your pulpit several times for this same Governor Ayade to mount on and make promises to the people he never intended to fulfill and of course never fulfilled.

    “The church has allowed priests to serve as the Governor’s SA’s and members of fanciful committees; these committees are high in jargons and low in performance. With these priests present in this administration, the church cannot excuse herself from failure of the administration and the consequent opprobrium.

    “The Church has been quite for too long in the face of tyranny and bad governance. Why? Is it cowardice? Over 2000 years ago, the Founder of our church looked at Herod and the politicians and called them “Foxes!” That’s the same spirit he gave us. Not a spirit of fear or timidity!

    “Ayade touched a prophet. He did a prophet harm… and in the process he broke the law.

    “Let him pay. Make him pay.

    “Firsts Baba Isa (FBI), a Legal Practitioner, writes from Abuja.
    [email protected].”

  • #EndSARS Video Led To Fr. Armon’s Arrest – Eroh

    #EndSARS Video Led To Fr. Armon’s Arrest – Eroh

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Director of Communication of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, Very Rev. Fr. Emma Eroh has stated that the arrest of Rev. Fr. Titus Armon on the 29th of October, 2020, is connected with the #EndSARS video shared from his phone by his brother.

    Fr. Eroh made this known in a release he personally signed and made available to The Lumine News

    The release reads in parts “A special delegation sent by the Bishop of Ogoja diocese headed by the Vicar General Admin, Rev. Fr. Peter Abue met with officials at the Department of State Security (DSS).

    “After intense deliberation, it was observed that Fr. Armon who was arrested yesterday and released today October 30th, 2020, was connected with an #EndSARS related video allegedly shared from his phone used by his brother who was in possession of his phone and simcard. He was however released unconditionally.

    “We thank other members of the delegation, Frs. Matthew Otuji, Joe Bebia, Victor Owan, the diocesan lawyer, Marc Ename Esq.

    “To God be the glory, my experience today is an indication of how careful we should be in sharing views and stories on social media”

    Recall that the social media has been inundated with disturbing reports initially of the kidnap of the clergyman and later that he was arrested on a mistaken identity.

    Others commentators had fingered the Governor, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade to have masterminded his arrest, alleging that Fr. Titus Armon elder brother is a critic of the Governor.

    This clarification however, settles all accusations and counter accusations as currently brandishing the media space.