Onitsha Archdiocesan CMO Hails Chaplain, President-General’s Leadership at Maiden Convention
By Polycarp Ifeanyi
The Chaplain of the Onitsha Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Very Rev. Fr. Sampson Ogbuebune, and its President-General, Chief Sir Everistus Ubah, have been commended for their prudent leadership and commitment to repositioning the organisation for greater growth and development.
The commendation was made by the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Sir Aloysius Azubike Okafor, KSJI, during the maiden convention of the Onitsha Archdiocesan CMO, held at the field of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.
Chief Okafor observed that the collaborative leadership of Fr. Ogbuebune and Chief Ubah had strengthened the growth and progress of the organisation across the Archdiocese.
“I thank our Chaplain, Fr. Ogbuebune, and our President-General, Chief Sir Everistus Ubah. They are doing wonderfully well, and we need to support them to revive CMO further. This convention is a time for CMO to come together and chart the way forward,” he said.
He described men as heads of their families and urged members to make the organisation more functional through active participation in its programmes and activities.
He also expressed confidence that the current leadership had made CMO more formidable.
The maiden convention, themed “Champion of Christ, Defender of Faith and Family,” was aimed at mobilising support for the establishment of an e-library at Shanahan University, Onitsha, founded by the Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke.
In his homily during the Holy Mass celebrated to mark the occasion, the Vicar-General of the Onitsha Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. JohnBosco Okafor, who represented Archbishop Okeke, reminded fathers of their vital responsibilities as heads of their families.
He urged them to remain focused and participate actively in CMO meetings, Church activities and the affairs of society at large. He also advised members to vote for credible individuals rather than political parties in the forthcoming general elections.
In an interview with journalists, Fr. Ogbuebune expressed gratitude to God for the successful hosting of the convention.
He noted that, unlike in the past when participation was relatively low, fathers were now responding positively to the organisation’s activities through the concerted efforts of his office and the President-General.
Fr. Ogbuebune further explained that members had unanimously agreed to support and vote for individuals with the requisite capacity, sound conscience and fear of God, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“We have agreed to vote for an individual contesting for a position, not a political party. When the individual is good, the party will be good. If we go for a party and neglect the individual, we may not get what we want,” he stated.
Also speaking, the President-General, Chief Sir Everistus Ubah, popularly known as Oba Nnabuenyi, described CMO as a Christian organisation rather than a partisan group.
He said the organisation would support only individuals who were known to the people, accessible and committed to serving them selflessly.
“Somebody who will serve you is somebody you can interact with. If you don’t interact with the person, how will he serve you?” he queried.
In his remarks, the President Emeritus of the organisation, Hon. Sir Ifeanyichukwu E. S. Nnajiaku, KSM, expressed delight at the progress CMO had made since he handed over its leadership to Chief Ubah.
He noted that the organisation had continued to grow from strength to strength, attributing the progress to the commitment of its current leadership.
Nnajiaku explained that the convention was organised to remind fathers of their fundamental responsibilities within their families, the Church and society.
He described the family as a domestic Church and stressed the importance of fathers in nurturing Christian values and promoting the well-being of their families.
Dignitaries at the event included Senator Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North Senatorial District, and Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District.
Senator Nwoye pledged to construct the proposed e-library at Shanahan University, Onitsha, on behalf of the Onitsha Archdiocesan CMO.
Highlights of the convention included the announcement of football, quiz and march-past competitions. Onitsha Region clinched first position in both football and quiz competitions, while Iyiowa Odekpe emerged winner of the march-past competition.
