Emeka Ejere || After five years of, sometimes violent, the standoff with most priests and faithful of Ahiara Diocese who rejected him as an ethnic outsider, Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke, Monday resigned saying his remaining bishop there would not be beneficial to the church.
The case of the Vatican versus the people of the diocese of Ahiara in southwestern Nigeria had become a rare battle of wills that tested the power of papal authority and could set a precedent for future appointments.
A Vatican statement said the pope had accepted the resignation of Okpaleke as bishop of the diocese of Ahiara. It said the position had been declared vacant and that a papal administrator would run it for the time being.
Unconfirmed report say Bishop Lucius Ugorji of Umuahia Diocese is now to serve as the administrator of the diocese.
Many priests and faithful had refused to swear allegiance to Okpaleke because he is not from Mbaise, a heavily Catholic area in southwestern Nigeria made up of an amalgam of indigenous clans connected by intermarriage.
Okpaleke was appointed bishop by then-pope Benedict in 2012, but the protests prevented him from ever taking over the diocese. His installation ceremony took place in another area of Nigeria because the doors of the Ahiara cathedral were locked so the bishop could not enter.
The situation came to a head last June when Francis demanded that all priests in the diocese write him a letter within 30 days pledging their obedience to and accepting Okpaleke as their bishop because he was appointed by a pope.
Those who did not write such a letter would face suspension from the priesthood, the pope told them at the time. Francis also demanded that the rebellious priests write a letter of apology to Okpaleke.
Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency, on Monday, published excerpts from Okpaleke’s resignation letter, saying he had not been able to take possession of diocese or even live within its territory because of continuing “violent reaction and resistance”.
Fides said some 200 priests had written to the pope promising their obedience. But many had also told the pontiff that they had “psychological difficulty in collaborating with the bishop after years of conflict”.
The agency, which is controlled by the Vatican, said the rebellious priests should “reflect on the grave damage inflicted on the church” through their “unreasonable actions opposing a bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff”.
In his resignation letter, Okpaleke said remaining bishop in Ahiara would not be beneficial to the church.
A priest who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Alabingo that Okpaleke’s resignation was long overdue as “you do not force people to accept you when their spirit has directed them otherwise.”
“This will mark the beginning of the restoration of peace that has eluded this diocese for five years,” the priest added.
Some of the faithful also spoke. Mr. Okey Njoku said, “Our people can now have peace finally.”
Miss Veronica Igwe noted, “At last victory has come to Mbaise. Those who were bent on imposing Okpaleke on the people have been defeated.”
However, Mr. Chima Dim, who obviously is not a native of Mbaise has a contrary view. “Mbaise priests and faithfuls have set a precedent that will backfire soon. Many dioceses and establishment of Catholic Church will soon start rejecting Mbaise priests and faithfuls on appointment worldwide. Do not complain when the time come.”
“But the sole administrator is neither from Mbaise too, Stephanie Godfrey, observed