Kattey Blames Cabal For Church Crisis

Authorities of the Diocese of Niger Delta North Anglican Communion have blamed the crisis rocking
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Nkporgu on the existence of a cabal in the church.
The Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev Ignatius Kattey, who made this observation in a press briefing in Port Harcourt at the weekend said the church would not succumb to the activities of the cabal.
Members of the church had on the 22nd of December, 2013 locked out their Rector, Venerable Chimela Samuel and others from gaining entrance into the church for Sunday service, calling for their redeployment.
The Diocese had set up a panel to probe the allegations against Venerable Chimela Samuel.
Bishop Kattey, who is also the Archbishop, Province of Niger Delta, told newsmen that Venerable Samuel was innocent of the allegations against him.
He said that Venerable Samuel was not the first priest who had suffered in the hands of the cabal as others before him such as Venerable F. A. Fefegha, Venerable N. P. F. Oluogwa and Venerable Emma A. Okam had suffered similar fate in the hands of the cabal.
In his view, chairman of the probe panel, the Diocesan Chancellor, Barrister Emeka Ichoku said that the panel found Venerable Samuel not guilty of all the allegations against him.
Meanwhile, a caretaker committee has been set up to administer the affairs of the church.
This was part of the resolution issued by the probe panel on the activities of the church a copy which was made available to newsmen.
The committee is to be chaired by Sir Nnanna Onyekwere with fourteen others as members.
The resolution said that “the diocesan board condemns the rebellious attitude of certain members of the church who have continually harassed members of the church who do not support their views as well as clergy and their wives posted to serve in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Nkporgu.”
The resolution further indicated that “henceforth, any rebellious act will be met with ecclesiastical discipline in accordance with the scriptures, the canons of the church of Nigeria and the constitution and regulations of the Diocese of Niger Delta North.”