Group Faults Anglican Church On Ownership Claim Of Bishop Crowther Memorial Primary School Onitsha

A group named “Concerned Christians and non Christians of Anambra state” ,has staged a protest, against the what it called recent actions and utterances of the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, which they believe, was capable of causing religious and political tensions across the state.

The group took their protest to Anambra state Commissioner of police, Mr Garuba Umar at the Police headquarters, Amawbia.

The protesters were seen chanting solidarity songs displaying placards with various inscriptions such as”,Anambra is peaceful under Governor Willie Obiano,We don’t want religious war in Anambra,Anglicans love Governor Willie Obiano among others.

Reading out the protest letter signed by the group’s coordinator Mr Ernest Anafonye and secretary, Mr Onyedika Nwosu ,to CP Garuba, the cordinator of the group, Mr. Anafonye,said they came to bring to the attention of the CP, the activities of Right Reverend Owen Nwokolo, which they claimed among other things, is aimed at misleading the public and asked the CP to intervene in order to avoid religious war as well as breach of peace in Anambra state.

Describing Anambra as a very peaceful, safe and secured state, Mr Anafonye, noted that despite their diverse religious inclinations and beliefs Anambra people are at peace with one another in the state. Responding The Police Commissioner, Mr Umar while acknowledging the claim of ownership of Bishop Crowther Memorial Primary School, Onitsha, by both the state government and the Anglican church, said the police will look into the protest letter, work on it and take necessary action. He disclosed that he had series of meetings with the parties involved, and asked the aggrieved parties to go to court to seek redress adding that land issue is not under the purview of the Nigeria Police.

Reacting, the Anglican church in a press release by the House of Bishops, House of Clergy and House of Laity, of the Province of the Niger, insisted that the Anglican church, Diocese on the Niger, is the rightful owner of Bishop Crowther Memorial Primary school, Onistha since 1926 with a duly registered document in 1927.

The church’s view point was signed by the Archbishop, Province of the Niger and Bishop of Nnewi, Most Reverend Prof. Godwin Okpala.