The Imo State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it described as the “desecration of the Odenigbo lecture, ” organised by the Catholic Diocese of Owerri, Imo State.
The Odenigbo lecture is a yearly event of the Catholic Church to shore up support for Igbo culture and practices, including the Igbo language.
It was gathered that the lecture, billed to be held at the Assumpta Catholic Cathedral, Owerri, was met with protest by some allegedly paid placard carrying women, youths and thugs, following the presence of the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, who accompanied the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, to the event.
El-Rufai was said to have arrived in the state on Friday and had, in the company of Obi, attended an event held by the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, as well as visited some traditional rulers before the Odenigbo lecture on Saturday.
Reacting to the development in a statement yesterday, Imo ADC State Publicity Secretary, Macdonald Amadi, condemned any act of violence, saying the party was not against anybody but is interested in a transparent society where people can freely mingle.
Amadi stated that the actions of the hoodlums who disrupted the event and desecrated the altar are deeply alarming and threaten the peace, stability, and moral fabric of Imo State, adding that such acts of lawlessness are unacceptable and must be addressed decisively.
