By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—The dust raised by the recent renaming of Maria Assumpta Avenue to Muhammadu Buhari Road, has not settled, as Catholics appear very determined to recover the entire stretch of the road.

Speaking to Vanguard yesterday, the Worthy Grand Knight of the Knights of Saint Mulumba, KSM, Dr. Emmanuel Esenwah, confirmed that only the first half of the road had been reversed.

“The remaining half from Orlu Road/Warehouse Roundabout to Library/Okigwe Road Roundabout, has remained Muhammadu Buhari Road. As the correction has started, we urge the government to complete it by reverting the entire stretch to it’s original status,” Dr. Esenwah said.

While commending the Governor’s courage in starting the process of reversing himself, Esenwah however added that history will be kind on him, in this matter, if he completes the process.

Speaking also on the issue, another Catholic Knight, Sir Eva Njemanze, reasoned that “changing the name of the road in the first place, is the height of impudence to Catholics in particular and Imolites in general”.

While urging the citizenry to rise up and condemn without equivocation, what he called “this unbridled passion by the Governor, to cause havoc and unleash political vendetta on the people”, Sir Njemanze however opined that “jamming the President against Nigerian Catholics by this act,is a wicked design”.

Continuing, the Fourth Degree Knight also said that if this executive recklessness was not checked now, it may cause the state to become a pariah among the commity of states in Nigeria.

“The battle is not over. We will keep fighting for the restoration of the entire stretch of Maria Assumpta Avenue”, Sir Njemanze said.