The Ugoani of Okpanam Kingdom, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, JP, has warned land grabbers to desist from such illegal and ungodly acts.
The Okpanam monarch gave the warning at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta state during the celebration of the feast day of St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Okpanam and launching for the new Chaplaincy Church Building.
Dr. Ugbolu said that it was a very sorry sight noticing that part of the land belonging to St. Mulumba College had already been bought by some land grabbers.
He frowned at the negative development, stressing that such land in dispute should be returned to the Catholic Church, the rightful owners of the land.
While commending the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Dr. Andrew Ugochukwu Anah and the Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Michael Odogwu Elue for their tireless efforts towards rebuilding the school, he assured them that with prayers and hard work, the school would bounce back to its former glory.
Earlier in his sermon, Rev Fr. Anah said he decided to mark the feast day of St. Mulumba who happened to be the patron Saint of the Church, St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Okpanam.
The cleric said that the universal and original date was on the 3rd of June each year, adding that he had to fix it on Sunday which is Pentecost Sunday so as to carry out the launching for the new Church building the same day.
Rev. Fr. Anah, who recalled that St. Mulumba was killed with others as they are now called “Martyrs of Uganda”, and gave a little history of St Mulumba, also known as Matiya Mulumba Kalemba, who was martyred around May 30, 1886.
He, however, noted that St. Mulumba was a patron saint of Chiefs and Families.
Rev. Fr Anah said that St. Mulumba was captured and sold into slavery in Buganda and initially converted to Islam but later became a Catholic catechumen and was baptized in 1880 by Pere Ludovic Girauit. He was well known for his humility and willingness to serve but was killed around May 30, 1886 at the age of 50, the cleric stated.
Fr. Anah commended the Parishioners and well-wishers for their efforts towards the growth of the Chaplaincy and urged them not to relent in working for God, reminding them that God would reward and enrich them for their efforts.
He took the Gospel reading from the Gospel of St. John (Jn.14:15-18.23b -26) with the theme “The Holy Spirit will teach you all things”.
He urged Christians to always respect other people’s beliefs and religion, just as he enjoined parents to bring up their children and wards in the right way of life.
In an interview with journalists after the event, the Chairman of Obodogba Youths, Comrade Chukwuma Abumujor commended the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Andrew Ugochukw Anah for the growth and development of the Church and School.
Comrade Abumujor assured that Obodogba youths would always do their best to provide assistance to the Church and the School whenever the need arose, and implored people to key in by making donations and support towards the building of the new church.
He described the building of the new Church and the general development of the school compound as commendable and advised Obodogba youths
