Unlike the people of Ahiara Catholic Diocese in Imo state, this is how the people of Ogoja diocese (Cross River state) welcomed a their Bishop-elect, Monsignor Donatus Edet Akpan, who is from another diocese and hails from Akwa Ibom state to their land as the new shepherd.

Ahiara Catholic Diocese has remained without a Bishop, more than four years after the death of its pioneer Bishop, Rt. Rev. Victor Chikwe, after the rejection of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke by some members of Ahiara Diocese, Mbaise, in Imo, who was appointed and consecrated in 2012.

Despite order from ‘Above’ from the Catholic helmsman, Pope Francis, some members of the Ahiara Diocese have rejected Bishop Okpaleke, of Anambra origin had been rejected since 2012 when he was posted to the Diocese of Ahiara because he was not a native of Mbaise.