Tensions escalated as the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, and Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, engaged in a verbal duel over the governor’s proposal to fine the Obimma family for their ostentatious funeral ceremonies for the late Ezinne Grace Obimma.
Governor Soludo, during the requiem mass for Ezinne Grace Obimma, invoked Anambra State’s existing law against extravagant burial ceremonies.
He pointed fingers at Charles Obimma, a legislator involved in passing the state burial law in 2019, accusing the family of exceeding the prescribed burial expenses limit.
In response, Archbishop Okeke rebuked the governor for overstepping his jurisdiction, emphasizing the separation of powers and urging respect for the boundaries between ecclesiastical and governmental authority.
He asserted that crafting laws regarding Christian burials is not within the governor’s purview, emphasizing that unrealistic or unenforceable laws should be deemed unjust.
During the requiem mass, Rev Fr. Dr. Prudentius Aroh and former presidential candidate Peter Obi paid tribute to the late Madam Obimma, lauding her exemplary life. Rev Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, founder of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry Uke, highlighted his mother’s devotion to God and humanity, emphasizing her saintly life that ended on All Saints Day.
The clash underscores the delicate balance between governmental regulations and religious practices, sparking a debate over the authority to dictate burial customs in Anambra State.
