Catholic priests to fight abortion law in Imo

Priests of the Catholic
Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri, have
started strategizing to tackle the anti-life
legislation recently signed into law by
Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Vanguard investigation revealed that the
clerics held their first meeting last Thursday
at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri.
Feelers from the meeting chaired by His
Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, revealed that
one of the major issues discussed was the
controversial abortion law foisted on the
people by the state.
One of the priests said: “We met to properly
position ourselves to effectively battle the
controversial abortion law recently signed
by Governor Rochas Okorocha.”
Gov Okorocha
Gov Okorocha
Meanwhile, Archbishop Obinna has called
for immediate abrogation of the state laws
containing what he termed “anti-life
legislation” signed by Okorocha and his
predecessor, Chief Achike Udenwa in 2012
and 2007 respectively.
Archbishop Obinna, who was visibly angry
as he spoke on a number of issues,
including the controversial abortion law and
this year’s Odenigbo Lecture, insisted that all
anti-life laws in the state must be abrogated.
“We are calling for immediate abrogation of
all anti-life legislations in the state. Although
the church will not be mirred in the nation’s
murky waters of partisan politics, it will,
however, continue to demonstrate interest
in the nation’s democratic process for the
common good of the citizenry.”
He expressed regret that after beating a
regret that followed public outcry in 2010,
the State House of Assembly eventually
legalized the evil of abortion, Governor
Rochas Okorocha quietly signed the state
Law number 12 of 2012.
According to the fiery Archbishop, this new
law, which was signed May 29, 2012,
Nigeria’s Democracy Day, contains
obnoxious and lethal provisions.
“This new law contains obnoxious and
lethal provisions. This law threatens many
conceived but unborn children with
imminent death. This is unacceptable, anti-
life and unchristian,” Obinna said.
The Catholic cleric equally descended on
former Governor Udenwa for assenting to
“the Gender and Equal Opportunity Law
Number 7 of 2007”.
The cleric noted that some sections of the
law also legalized abortion without
considering the right of the conceived,
unborn child or the helplessness of the
unborn baby.
He said: “Since abortion amounts to murder
of the helpless, hapless child, we as God
fearing people in Imo State, cannot standby
and allow this law to rampage our society in
the name of Women’s Reproductive and
Gender Rights.”
On the forthcoming Owerri Archdiocesan
Day and Odenigbo Lecture, Obinna
explained that the former vice chancellor of
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor
Peter Ejiofor, had been chosen as the
lecturer, while the topic is “Igbo progressive
welfare”.