By Victor Onajero
It is no longer news that Right Reverend Anthony Ewherido was ordained and installed as the fifth indigenous Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Warri in a glorious atmosphere, graced by the Catholic community from far and wide.
The episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Ewherido took place on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Minor Seminary, Effurun, Delta State.
The eagle eye NewsNet Nigeria correspondent, however, uncovered an incident that might have been missed by other pressmen present at the event.
After the ordination of Rt. Rev. Ewherido, it got to the time for holy communion which is taken only by Catholic faithful who are in the state of grace.
The Deputy Senate President and All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship candidate for Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, a Catholic, joined others in line to receive holy communion from the Priest.
Just behind Senator Omo-Agege was the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Delta State gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.
Senator Omo-Agege, a well-known Catholic, duly received his communion and Olorogun Gbagi following him behind was next to receive.
However, when quizzed by the Priest if he is a Catholic, the former Nigerian Minister of Education replied, yes, but failed to respond to the question asked by the Priest, which is well understood by Catholics while receiving holy communion.
Gbagi’s request was subsequently turned down by the Priest despite his plea to see his wish granted.
Perhaps embarrassed by what transpired, the SDP guber candidate ‘stylishly’ left the queue for his seat and later left the ceremony unannounced as the experience obviously still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
As of the time of filing this report, calls put across to the MTN number 080340…00 of Olorogun Gbagi to get his side of the story were unsuccessful.