Ozigbo will be the chair of the grand reception to receive Cardinal Okpaleke at the Ekwulobia Diocese on September 8, 2022.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Businessman Valentine Ozigbo has congratulated Peter Okpaleke on his investiture as cardinal by Pope Francis on August 27 at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy.
Cardinal Okpaleke, the Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese and an indigene of Amesi in Anambra State, is one of 19 newly created cardinals and one of two from Africa. He is a close friend and former teacher to Mr Ozigbo, the immediate past president and group CEO of Transcorp Plc and a 2021 Anambra governorship candidate.
“What a joyful experience to witness the creation of Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke by His Holiness, Pope Francis today (Saturday) at the St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I celebrate with Catholic faithful worldwide on this special occasion and congratulate my elder brother, His Eminence, Cardinal Okpaleke, the Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, on this elevation of service.
“His Eminence is an embodiment of grace, humility, and wisdom, and this elevation to a Prince of the Universal Church comes precisely 30 years of his priestly ordination.
“I honour what His Eminence represents, particularly for us in Amesi and Ndi Anambra. We are grateful to the Almighty for keeping him and granting us the grace to witness this solemn ceremony. May God Almighty take the glory,” Ozigbo prayed.
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Ozigbo will be the chair of the grand reception to receive Cardinal Okpaleke at the Ekwulobia Diocese on September 8, 2022.
Other notable Nigerians who witnessed the consistory were Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party; Prof Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, and his wife, Nonye Soludo; Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop emeritus of Abuja; Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke, the Metropolitan See of Onitsha; Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the senator representing Anambra South.
Others were Senator Victor Umeh, the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Nonso Okpala, MD/CEO of VFD Group; Sunday Ezeobiora; Sir Joseph Ezeokafor of Jezco Group; Senator Margret Okadigbo, the chairman of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Ada Umeorji, the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank; Prof Charles Esimone, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Also present were Hon Uchenna Okafor, Speaker Anambra House of Assembly; Ikenna Okafor (Ide Akwaeze); Robert Umeozulu; Obby Okwubanego; Victor Oye, Chairman of APGA, Hon Chris Azubuogu, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, former VC of UNIZIK and many others.
Other clergy at the event were Archbishop Jude Okolo, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic; Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor of Awka Diocese; Bishop Jonas Benson of Nnewi Diocese, Bishop Martin Uzoukwu of Minna Diocese; Bishop Anselm Umoren of Abuja Archdiocese; and many more.
After the ceremony, Pope Francis led the new cardinals on a courtesy visit to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. As the Vatican News Agency reported, Pope Francis greeted Benedict XVI with great affection and made the cross on his forehead sign in a brief emotional meeting. Then the new cardinals introduced themselves one by one to exchange brief messages.