•Becomes first Nigerian  Catholic Bishop in Gabon

By Chidi Nkwopara

WORDS are completely   inadequate to fully express the palpable joy of an octogenarian mother, Ezinne Anthonia Ihuaru Manuagwu, when she hugged her son, Most Rev. Dr. Eusebius Chinekezi Ogbonna Manuagwu, the pioneer Catholic Bishop of Port-Gentil, Gabon.

Bishop Manuagwu is the first Nigerian to be installed a Catholic Bishop in far away Republic of Gabon. Records in Saint John Bosco’s Catholic Parish, Owu Amakohia, shows that apart from being the fourth out of 18 other indigenous Catholic priests so far produced, Manuagwu has equally gone down in history as the first indigenous Catholic Bishop of Ikeduru local council area of the state.

Bishop Eusebius Manuagwu blessing his aged mother, Ezinne Anthonia Ihuaru Manuagwu ( pics by Chidi Nkwopara)

Giving a brief account of how he found himself in Gabon, when he addressed the congregation, the Bishop said: “There is no way I can tell the history of my priesthood without remembering Biafra. You all will recall that Gabon was one of the few countries that recognized the Republic of Biafra, during those days of the fratricidal war of survival. The Republic of Gabon provided succour for Biafrans, especially children with serious health challenges. Health and rehabilitation centres were built in Gabon for Biafrans and competently manned by relevant specialists.

“My parents relocated to this French speaking country, during the Nigeria/Biafra war. The government and people of Gabon welcomed Biafrans and showered unfettered love to them. I spent about 11 to 12 years in Gabon. Having been overwhelmed by the level of love and care showered on Biafrans, I promised God that I will pay back the good works, love and care the government and people of Gabon showed Biafrans.

“That was how I joined the race for Catholic priesthood. I promise that I will continue to do what God wants me to do. Pray for me always.”

Apart from August 9, 2009, when he came home to officiate at the requiem mass of his beloved father, Mr. Isaac Manuagwu, April 30, 2017, was the first time he came home, after his consecration as the pioneer Bishop of Port-Gentil, Gabon.

The Bishop’s mother, Ezinna Anthonia Ihuaru Manuagwu, wished that her husband lived to savour the blessings of their lifetime. She recalled that “when Eusebius was presented at the altar, I silently prophesied to my little baby boy that he will serve God in his life and that is what it has turned out to be now”.

Ezinne Manuagwu equally recalled that her son started walking in his seventh month, stressing that “at this point, he used to walk towards the altar to meet the officiating priest, during mass”.

Manuagwu said that his peers suggested to him, to apply for medicine and surgery, but he shunned the advice and preferred to go to the seminary. “Can I really thank God enough for His grace? It is God’s doing that I am alive to see this day and we must be glad in it”, Ezinne Manuagwu said.

Ahead of the Bishop’s return, the cleric’s kinsmen were informed of his intention to celebrate his first bishopric mass in his rural native home. The people rolled out the drums, levelled the dusty Oboama Enyiogugu-Owubinubi road with canon shots heralding the arrival of the Bishop.

Speaking to South East Voice, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Stanley Ekwerike, expressed happiness that the feat was actualized during his tenure. “Many dignitaries, from all over the world, including the head of Muslim religion in Gabon, attended Bishop Manuagwu’s episcopal ordination”, Fr. Ekwerike said.