There was outrage in church the moment Rev. Fr. James Anelu, the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos, announced the ban of Igbo songs in his parish.
A video from the scene shows church members revolting even as the priest stood his ground and threatened members with the “wrath of God”.
He told them that if he goes to Ekwulobia and starts speaking Yoruba, the people will stone him.
He then narrated an incident where he went for a burial Mass in the South East and was initially denied a chance to say Mass because he can not speak Igbo.
He then asked why Igbos will be singing Igbo songs in a church in Lagos and questioned if the plan is to drive other tribes away from the church.
Watch the video below.
Father Anelu has now been suspended by the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos. The suspension takes effect from today, February 8, 2022.
Rev. Fr. James Anelu, has been known to chastise choristers who sing Igbo songs when he is officiating Mass in any parish in the South-South and South-West.
The reason he gives at these Masses is that Igbos are not the only ones who attend Catholic churches and the excesses of the Igbos must be contained.
Most recently, he angrily stopped choristers who were singing an Igbo chorus during the second collection, noting that Igbos cannot keep dominating other people in Catholic churches in non-eastern states.
He reportedly cited the case of his Benin Diocese where Igbos dominate to the point of an Igbo cleric becoming the Bishop.
It is alleged that he defended his viewpoint by claiming that the spirit of God recognizes only the geographical languages of the parish.
Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos, while announcing the suspension issued a “disclaimer”, directing Rev. Fr. James Anelu to proceed on “an indefinite leave of absence”.
The letter dated February 7, read:
“It has been brought to our notice that Rev Fr James Anelu, the priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa, Ikorodu, made some completely unacceptable comments about Igbo songs being sung in the Church and unsavoury remarks that do not represent the Catholic church’s position on the common brotherhood of peoples of all tribes and religions.
“For this reason, he has been asked to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence to give an opportunity for a thorough investigation of all the matters relating to his ministry on the parish. The leave of absence takes effect from Tuesday, February 8, 2021, till further notice.
“We, therefore, urge all Catholic faithful to hold on to the faith and continue in worship of God as one big family united and not separated by language, culture, or race.”
