Archbishop of Lagos, Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins
A Catholic priest in Lagos, Reverend Father James Anelu, has been suspended for banning Igbo songs in his parish.
Father Anelu oversees the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos.
The Archbishop of Lagos, Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, in a “disclaimer”, directed the priest to proceed on “an indefinite leave of absence.”
Anelu was reported to have banned Igbo songs and choruses in his parish, alleging that the excesses of Ndigbo must be contained.
The priest was alleged to have angrily stopped a soul-lifting chorus during the second collection on the grounds that Igbos were dominating other people in the parish.
In the suspension letter dated February 7, Archbishop Martins said that the comments of the priest was completely unacceptable and do not represent the Catholic church’s position on the common brotherhood of peoples of all tribes and religion.
He said that the Church would investigate the issue and, urged all Catholic faithful to hold on to the faith and continue in the worship of God as one big family united and not separated by language, culture, or race.
Editing by Tina Oyinsan