Orji not booed at Bishop’s funeral in Aba

Abia State government has denied that Governor Theodore Orji was booed and pelted with sachets of water by some people at the burial of the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, the late Bishop Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia, on Friday.

The government insisted that the governor, who attended the burial alongside dignitaries from all walks of life, including serving and former ministers, received accolades by enthusiastic crowd that saw his convoy along Asa Road.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Charles Ajunwa, there was no truth in the report, but that it was concocted by the writer in furtherance of the hatred against the governor, for daring to put Legacy Projects on the ground, which had made him a household name in the state
According to him, the environment at the Christ the King Catholic, CKC, Aba, venue of the funeral mass for the late Bishop, was calm when the governor arrived at exactly 10.am with his wife and other officials.
“On arrival, the governor and his delegation moved straight into the Cathedral, which was filled to capacity, without any incident,” Ajunwa added.
He stated that there was no time the governor was booed or jeered, not to talk of pelting him with pure water satchets, adding that the crowd outside merely cheered thunderously when he was officially announced as one of the dignitaries attending the burial.
Ajunwa maintained that it was not true that the hostile attitude of the crowd towards the governor prevented him from speaking at the event, pointing out that from the programme, there was no provision for Orji or any other dignitary to speak.
“Not even the speech by President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by former governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi, was read, including the condolence message from Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.
“It was not read at the mass. No politician who attended the church service was allowed to speak.
“Based on the arrangement, there was no point setting up the governor’s podium”, he said, adding that “after the service, the governor accompanied Bishop Ezeonyi’a corpse to the graveside, and after the internment, quietly entered his vehicle and left the premises without fuss.”
He insisted that all the way through Asa Road on his way back, jubilant crowd who were pleased with the governor for identifying with the Catholic community and attending the burial personally, as well as his supporters, followed his convoy and were hailing him and chanting his praises for the many Legacy Projects he has been able to accomplish.
“Some of them expressed pleasure with the governor for constructing and rehabilitating major roads in Aba, including Asa Road and other roads in the city, among other things he has done for them.
“They noted that contrary to insinuations in some quarters the governor neglected Aba, he has actually done a lot in the city in the area of road construction and rehabilitation and infrastructural development.”