One Year On, Bishop Seeks Forgiveness For Adoration Ground Killers FROM VICTOR ONYEKA-BEN (ENUGU) ONE year after, the pains of the loss of 14 worshippers at the Adoration Prayer Ground in Enugu State, still linger in the minds of the residents and the Catholic faithful.
The state capital yesterday wore a sepulchral look yesterday as the residents and the church marked the first year of the disaster in which five gunmen stormed the prayer ground and fired indiscriminately at the crowd.
In the ensuing stampede, 14 persons died and several others were injured. The church swiftly accused the state government of sponsoring the attack, an allegation stoutly denied by Governor Chimaroke Nnamani.
Fire brand Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, had been a thorn in the governor's flesh, as well as of many other well-heeled members of the society. His ascorbic and no-holds-barred sermons had provided the required tonic for even non-members of the church to troop to the weekly service.
But March 7 proved not just an ordinary day, as the faithful who had looked forward to the cleric's cerebral sermons, got more then they had bargained for .
Yesterday as they gathered to remember the tragedy, tens of thousands of residents ,all in black,held a procession in honor of the dead. They later held a solemn church service at the Holy Ghost Cathedral Church, also in the state capital.
The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Dr. Anthony Gbuyi called for peace in the state, adding that there was a need for forgiveness since, according to him, the 14 worshippers whom he described as martyrs did not die in vain.
The service and city-wide procession were closely monitored by a large contingent of mobile policemen from the state Police Command, who blocked the road through the Diocesan Cathedral with an armoured vehicle. The police men were, however, friendly with the worshippers and no skirmishes were recorded.
Bishop Gbuyi, who preached for close to one hour, said the church might declare the 14 worshippers as martyrs since they died in the course of practising their faith. He, however, added that it would be wrong to advocate vengeance, declaring them as victors even in death.
Gbuyi said: "The mass is for our brethren murdered by evil people, those people killed were innocent and peaceful people and we are praying for peace to be theirs in death.
"Ours is a message of peace, that, as Jesus died and rose again, so it is the case for those who died in Him."
The Bishop spoke further: "Today is the first anniversary of the Adoration Ground tragedy in Enugu, so we gather from Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and other states to pray for the repose of their souls. We can never forget them. They died while praying. The father has accepted them as a sweet and holy holocaust.
"Human life is always sacred because God created man in His own image, human beings carry the breath of life from God and we condemn therefore any violence that takes human life. The church therefore condemns the death of the 14 a year ago. We express gratitude to all those who commiserated with us from all over the country especially our laity council that reached out to the families of the dead offering them solace, money and Jesus".
Although the worshippers were decked in black, signaling the mood of the day, the Bishop told them that the remembrance was a celebration of life, saying that the 14 martyrs had triumphed over evil just as Christ triumphed over Satan. "We celebrate life, therefore, we are not celebrating death; we are not mourning, we are celebrating triumph of Christ over satan, the triumph of good over evil, the triumph of innocence over wickedness of the people of this nation.
"This is a day of victory and that is why we are not going to chant any war song today and forever. Our song is a song of victory in Jesus Christ our Lord. We shall all sing Halleluya on behalf of the martyrs we are honouring today."
The Bishop who further harped on the need for forgiveness, referred the faithful to the persecutions Jesus went through, adding "yet Jesus Christ pleaded to the Father and the Father forgave them".
Turning to the gathering, the bishop said: "this is the hour of truth, for one year now, we have wrath in our hearts, deep wounds, deep sorrows because our brothers and sisters were killed where they were praying. But the message of the Holy Father is this, God's message is this, Christ's message is this: will you forgive them? Are you ready to forgive all those who killed our brothers at the adoration ground?"
To this, the congregation chorused "yes" Bishop Gbuyi added: "It will be well with you because if you forgive them, God will forgive you. I have forgiven because I know I want God to forgive me".
Also speaking Rev. Fr. Mbaka, narrated how the killers came to him but was speared by God's grace. He also spoke on the need for peace in the state.
His words: "the Church is interested in peace and would do everything to ensure that there is peace in Enugu State."
Mbaka, however, added that the quest for peace by the church did not in any way mean inducement of the church and thanked all those who assisted the bereaved families.
At the service were some governorship aspirants in the state including Chief Ayogu Fidel (ANPP), Chief Walter Oji (NRP), Chief Alex Obiechina (UNPP) and Chief Emeka Eze (AD).
___________________ If we tried to sink the past beneath our feet, be sure the future would not stand. Posts: 20 | From: Uwani, Enugu | Registered: Jun 2001
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