By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA—TWO religious groups, the ‘International Center of Igbo Clergy, ICIC,’ and ‘Anambra Unite Against Denominational Discrimination’, have accused Governor Willie Obiano of denominational discrimination, alleging that his administration has consistently been favouring Catholics since he mounted the saddle in 2014.

Addressing reporters in Awka, members of the groups vowed to do everything within their powers to stop Obiano from winning the November 18, 2017 governorship election in the state, adding that non-Catholics could not afford another four years of Obiano as governor.

However, the senior special assistant to Governor Obiano on media and legislative matters, Mr. Oliver Okpala, dismissed the groups, describing them as politicians in religious garments.

Chief Willie Obiano

Okpala said: ”I sincerely doubt if these men are actually men of God who should work in consonance with biblical injunctions of loving your neighbour as yourself; that men should not judge and that judgment is that if the — Omnipotent being, God Almighty  in a nutshell they are politicians in Cassock,

“Their statements should be treated as statements coming from politicians in religious disguise because they have taken side and talking like people coming from the opposition.

“As the question of election is a constitutional privilege and right of every Nigerian citizen, they have no right to ask Obiano not to exercise his right.”

President of ICIC, Apostle Jeff Onyeamalu and Chief Anthony Chigbo, who spoke on behalf of the groups, advised all political parties that would present candidates for this year’s governorship election, to ensure that only people with liberal orientation were Power corrupts, but absolute power not only corrupts absolutely, it also leads to impunity.

“That is the reason why in the space of a little less than fourteen years, knowingly or unknowingly, there is incontrovertible evidence of Roman Catholicization of every position of authority in Anambra State to the gross exclusion and disadvantage of non-Catholics.

“Denominational domination is a subtle form of neo-colonialism that has institutionalized itself in the political and economic space of Anambra State.

“We are not oblivious of the fact that power is not given, but taken; it is fought for, and that we are ready to fight if you do not heed our timely warning to quit on account of equity, fairness, and good conscience.

“Consequently, we are presently engaged in sensitizing, mobilizing, organizing, and collating data based information of eligible non – Roman Catholic and liberal Roman Catholic registered voters