El-Rufai wasn’t invited to speak at Odenigbo lecture – Chancellor

By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI —- The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has said that the erstwhile Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was neither invited nor scheduled to talk astatine this year’s Archdiocesan Day/Odenigbo Lecture.

The Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary, Rev. Fr. Patrick C. Mbarah, who stated this successful a property statement, dated September 9, 2025, lamented implicit “the misrepresentation of facts and/or outright falsehood successful the societal media, astir the beingness oregon engagement of the erstwhile Kaduna State Governor, successful the celebration.”

His words: “The Odenigbo lecture is an intelligence bequest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri for the promotion of Igbo connection and Culture, for the inculturation of the Gospel and for the upliftment of our spiritual welfare.

“The Odenigbo Lecture, which is rendered wholly successful Igbo Language, is the precocious constituent of the Archdiocesan Day Celebration. Only 1 Guest Lecturer of Igbo extraction, chosen the erstwhile year, gives the lecture.

“This year’s lecture was delivered connected Saturday 6th September, by Rev. Sr. Prof. Evangeline Oparaocha, of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO.

“The past variation was nary objection to the rule. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was not invited by the Archdiocese to present immoderate lecture oregon code astatine the event.

“Much arsenic the lecturers are from the Igbo stock, the assemblage however, is not constricted to Ndigbo. All persons, from each races, creed and governmental leaning, are invited to the event.”

Continuing, Fr. Mbarah expressed regret that midway into the event, a radical of hired placard-carrying thugs, comprising youngsters and women, stormed the Maria Assumpta Cathedral backmost gate, chanting each mode of unprintable things against Mr. Peter Obi and El-Rufai.

He said: “While Mr. Peter Obi has been a regular impermanent astatine the Archdiocesan Day/Odenigbo Lecture, he, however, was not capable to grace this year’s event.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai did not present immoderate speech nor property league wrong the premises of Villa Assumpta. It would beryllium astir misleading for immoderate radical oregon quality mean to people oregon broadcast specified a falsehood.

“It is bittersweet that immoderate misguided persons engaged immoderate youths and women to travel and disrupt the Archdiocesan activity, alternatively of engaging them successful thing meaningful to amended their lives.

“Attempting to desecrate the hallowed premises of Villa Assumpta is simply a large mistake by the sponsors of the misguided protesters.

“We hereby telephone connected specified individuals to desist from specified acts of hooliganism that interruption the cardinal quality rights and freedoms.

“Imo State is simply a peace-loving authorities known for her hospitality to guests and visitors. We truthful telephone connected the authorities authorities and the information agencies to unravel the sponsors of these culprits and bring them to publication without delay.”

The station El-Rufai wasn’t invited to talk astatine Odenigbo lecture – Chancellor appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.