Reports gathered by Africa Daily News have revealed that the alleged Papal Knighthood which was conferred on Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano is actually false.
Investigations from credible sources show that there was no Papal investiture of Gov. Willie Obiano as a Papal Knight by the Pope in Rome. Recall that photos of Governor Obiano being knighted by the Pope has been widely in the social media.
A knight of an Anambra state Catholic Chaplaincy disclosed that “while it is true the Pope has granted him Papal Knighthood, but there was no investiture by the Pope. Obiano simply had an audience with the Pope wearing the Papal cloth that was made for him by the Gammarelli in Rome and started splashing the pictures all over the net.”
“If you noticed, no Papal knight in Nigeria has congratulated him, because they are aware of his 419, but in other not to escalate the scandal Obiano has caused to the mother Church, they are handling it maturely”, he stated.
Read Also: Governor Obiano, Pompous And Braggadocious – Charley Boy
Investigations also reveal that his Local Ordinary and the Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valeria Okeke, was actually the person that applied the Papal knighthood for him on Obiano’s request and not that the Pope gave it to him for any reason.
“But did you see Obiano’s people suggesting that it was a direct grant from the Pope.
However, the Archdiocese and Vatican Embassy in Nigeria are not aware of the drama at Rome. What then drove him to such action?”
If a pope wants to personally perform an investiture ceremony, that the persons Bishop or his representatives would attend the ceremony but that in Obiano’s case he just traveled for a picnic to Rome with over 250 persons.
Apart from a few that followed him to the Papal audience, the rest were asked to remain in their hotel rooms. The Archdiocese and the association of Papal Knights in Nigeria are not aware of the so-called investiture
On the exchange of the Pope’s Skull cap in the video, Africa Daily News found out that it is not a big deal.
According to a properly knighted Catholic: ‘What happens is that if the Pope grants you audience, and you buy the cap from Vatican’s approved shop, the pope will exchange yours with his,” the Catholic priest who is working in Rome said this while maintaining that he had facilitated such for many Nigerians that have had audience with the Pope.”
But the manner in which Governor and Obiano propagated the audience with the Pope, “you will think he has discovered a new theorem.
Many Nigerians even Chief Victor Umeh that accompanied him had had the same audience. The likes of Ezenia of Orange Drugs, Annie Okonkwo and even Osita Chidoka who is not a Catholics have had the same audience, unsung.”
A governor who can draw up this kind of farce when nothing is at stake is capable of anything.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
