At the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, then-Head of State Yakubu Gowon summoned Archbishop Francis Arinze to Dodan Barracks in Lagos. Gowon questioned him about the church flying humanitarian relief, food, and medical supplies into Biafra, which the federal government felt helped prolong the conflict.
General Yakubu Gowon queried the archbishop, accusing church networks of helping prolong the war by flying in vital food and medical supplies.The Defense: Archbishop Arinze responded that providing humanitarian aid to starving civilians, children, and the sick was a legitimate and standard mission of the Church during warfare.
It is duty to every Roman Catholic to provide food to the poor, visit the sick, to take care of the sick, poor and vulnerable members of his community.
His Grace Cardinal Onaiyekan was in his rights and had a duty to notify the president on the poor living condition of the people
To punish the church for offering food ,medicine to victims of the Biafran war , Gowon and the federal government to deported foreign missionaries and later took over church-run schools, that was how the government wickedly took over missionary schools in Nigeria.
In 2011 then Gov. of Anambra state returned some missionary schools back to its original owners ,and till today the catholic still provides for the poor ,the hungry,the sick and those in prison.
It’s now 12 years since Peter Obi handed back missionary schools forcefully taken away by the Nigeria Government back to the Church the original owners.
Today all the schools handed over to the Catholic church are excelling in global competitions around the world.
1. Regina Pacis Onitsha
2. Mater Amabilis Umuoji
3. St. John’s Technical College
Alor
4. CKC Onitsha.
All in Onitsha Archdiocese. And more