Benin Catholics fault calls for Bishop’s removal

The Catholic Laity Council of Benin Arch-Diocese and Benin Catholic priests have disassociated themselves from calls for the removal of the Bishop of Benin Catholic Arch-Diocese, Bishop Augustine Akubueze, and urged aggrieved members to embrace peace in the Diocese.Meanwhile, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has set up an interventionist committee with a view to ameliorate the plight of Christians affected by activities of Boko Haram sect in the Northern parts of the country.Rev. Omobude, General Superintendent of New Covenant Gospel Church, told journalists that Christians can no longer afford to wait endlessly for the Federal Government to come to their aid when its members are suffering.He said: “My heart is broken. As we speak, many widows, children and orphans are now destitute.”Meanwhile, it will be recalled that a group, Edo Liturgical Group, had called for the removal of Bishop Akubueze, alleging plot to replace catholic priest and laity of Benin origin with an Igbo priest.Addressing newsmen in Benin City, Chairman of Indigenous Catholic Benin Priests, Rev Felix Igbineweka, described the call as unfortunate and urged those aggrieved to work in harmony with the authorities of the church to avoid unnecessary crisis.While disassociating indigenous Benin priests from the call for the removal of the Bishop, Rev. Igbineweka pledged their loyalty to Bishop Akubueze and urged aggrieved persons to channel their complaints to the relevant authorities rather than attempting to drag the name of the church through the mud.