Why Pope honoured Obi & Ilozumba

Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Revd Dr. Pau­linus Okeke has ex­plained that former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and Commissioner for Works in the administration, Callis­tus Ilozumba were honoured with the Papal Knighthood of St. Sylvester as a gesture of appreciation of the good work they did in the state during Obi’s eight-year tenure. The bishop said this during Obi’s investiture at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka yesterday.

The bishop said God was willing to use people as His in­strument provided they cooper­ated with Him as Virgin Mary did. Citing Obi as one in the position of power that allowed himself to be used by God for the good of the society, Okeke said before the former gover­nor’s tenure, Anambra State was like an abandoned place.

As a governor, the cleric said Obi was exemplary in many ways, including staying at the back when he came late to Church, not using siren and not travelling with many aides.

The bishop said Obi’s ex­ample was proof of the fact that the relationship between the church and the state should be one of mutual benefit and not antagonism, commending the former governor’s pru­dence and sense of propriety, saying the qualities would help anybody desirous of success in government.