Sometime in 2002, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka organized a fund-raising ceremony for its cathedral building project. The bishop, Most Rev. Dr. F.E.O Okobo knew the importance of that function.
He and his diocese were clocking 12 years without a cathedral church! And something has to be done. We have had enough of that excuse: “We were the youngest diocese among all the southern Nigeria provinces.”
You must grow up!
Though, Nsukka was relatively disadvantaged economically, but you have to make effort to outlive such narrative and move on.
And so, the bishop mobilized his diocesan curia and council to fix the event and ensure the invitation reached all the four corners of the earth.
The D-day came and crème de la crème of the society were seated.
The Highs and Mighties were present in their flamboyant royalty. The launching would be kicked off with a pontifical high Mass presided over by the Lord Bishop himself.
The then Gov. Chimaroke Nnamani was in attendance. His government as at that time was becoming distasteful to the rest of Enugu zones except for Nkanu his own zone.
Remember, raising money was the epicentre of the whole thing. Expectation was high in proportion to the heavy attendance of VIPs.
But then, when the rite of homily arrived, the fearless Bishop mounted the pulpit.
Tapping the microphone, he looked intently at the political office holders who have ‘magnanimously’ graced the occasion (seeing it as an opportunity to win votes in the 2003 general election that was months away).
He tapped the microphone again. And charged them to clear their ears! Again he dared them to clear their ears!
Then he began with the fiercest of exhortations I have ever seen. He minced it with unclad warnings against politicians who sell their citizens for money. Governors who sacrifice our common good on the unholy altar of selfish interests.
There and then, he became Prophet Amos and uttered: “Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the people, that go in with state into the house of Israel” (Amos 6:1).
“Hear this word, ye fat kine that are in the mountains of Samaria: you that oppress the needy, and crush the poor: that say to your masters: Bring, and we will drink.
The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that lo, the days shall come upon you, when they shall lift you up on pikes, and what shall remain of you in boiling pots. And you shall go out at the breaches one over against the other, and you shall be cast forth into Armon, saith the Lord” (Amos 4:1-2).
Bishop Okobo scared everyone present. The politicians wished they never came to that event.
The organizers of the launching became agitated.
That ancient Latin nugget was apt – “Vultus est index animi” – “The face is the signpost of the heart”. What was in their mind was boldly written on their faces: “What is His Lordship doing”?
For goodness’ sake, today is supposed be our fund raising day, but he has sneered at our core donors.
Yet, as the clock ticked by, he intensified his voice, raised his mane and irked the audience – the congregants.
Okobo as he was fondly called exudes such fearful aura. He’s just too stubborn to the liking of people who love conventions. He was damn meant for dynamics. Only him or anyone with his type of character-built could touch the tail of a lion and get away scorch-free.
He refused to be an itinerant preacher just to make money for his cathedral project.
No! Never!
He’s not that type. He is so uncompromising in matters of faith and morality that even his own priest dread his anger.
And so, that sunny day, he served a sour grape as lunch to our suppposed leaders who became rulers instead.
And boom!, Gov. Chimaroke zoomed off!
He became so visibly pissed that he had to signal his entourage and they left the venue. The pavilion was becoming increasingly uninhabitable to him.
This story was a long one. But I have to stop here.
Bishop Okobo held no personal grudge against Gov. Nnamani. He was just being a prophet in the true sense of it; taking the side of the oppressed while pointing the way to harmonious living among the leaders and the led.
And so that day, he earned the respect of Christians who have genuine faith in Christ.
Telling truth to power without ulterior motive is scarce in our clime. Okobo is now retired, but his legacies was never retired. He didn’t succeed in finishing the cathedral church, but he built the faith of the sheep under his care. A true shepherd!
But that was 2002.
Today, what we get is a different thing.
His Lordship was quite aware that if he fine tune his sermon to soothe those looters, they would open their purse and let the monies needed for the project flow. But nay, a true prophet doesn’t do that. It would amount to watering down the core message of the gospel.
When he was looking at the crowd, he saw not an avenue to make ill-gotten cash, and make everyone feel good, but an opportunity to spill the beans and reprimand the Niggas in government. And he resolutely took the opportunity.
As you read this, I know of one priest who would have acted otherwise.
But thank God, he’s not a bishop, and he’s also not from Nsukka diocese.
His Lordship may have clocked 29 years a bishop and deservedly resting in his emeritus home, but there are many Okobos among the Diocesan presbytery.
David Omego, Nnaemeka Agujiobi, Paul Obayi, Oliver Eze, name them!
So, if you’re in need of a prophet, just holla at Nsukka clergymen.
