Facts emerged yesterday why the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, conceded to the demand of the church to repeal the controversial Abortion Law in the state.
Sources said the governor soft-pedaled on the issue to prevent a repeat of what happened to his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who the church accused of flogging a reverend father.
It will be recalled that the immediate past Governor of the State, Chief Ohakim, lost his re-election bid to a running battle between him and the Catholic Church after he reportedly ordered the beating of a reverend father.
It was gathered that the governor was compelled to succumb to the demands of the Church, which had kicked against the law which permitted victims of intercourseual assault, rape and incest to abort pregnancies, to avoid a brewing battle with Catholic faithful in the state.
A source close to Catholic Diocese of Owerri, said the highly populated Catholic Church had concluded plan to fight the governor by ensuring that his chances of re-election or anointing a successor in 2015 is blocked.
Earlier, while addressing journalists, Archbishop of Owerri Diocese, His Grace, the Most Reverend Anthony Obinna, had posited that the church will continue to take a critical stand against government policies that does not align with the aspirations of the people.
A reliable source within Government House said; "The governor became jittery after the Catholic archbishop addressed journalists on the issue, because the governor knew the implication of engaging the church in a battle.
"That was exactly what consumed his predecessor. So, what he has done was the smartest thing to do in the present circumstance to avoid the wrath of the Christians in the state, who play a deciding role in who becomes the governor of the state."
The source further hinted that; "The governor is aware that some mischievous politicians, who were bent on pulling down his administration, may have hijacked the situation."
It was also gathered that some catholic faithful in the government, who were secretly supporting the church against the government, released vital documents pertaining to the controversial law to the leadership of the church.
The law number 12 of 2012, Section 40 (i) which bothers on the protection of women against any act of violence had the section smuggled into the bill which says that; "Every woman shall have the right to enjoy reproductive rights, including the right to medical abortion in cases of intercourseual assault, rape, incest..."
But in a dramatised move during an emergency sitting of the House of Assembly, which was summoned at his instance, the governor apologised to the church and the people of the state for the section of the law he said was grossly misinterpreted.
National Mirror
The whole abortion amongst teenage girls must just stop once and for all. It will forever be a terrible mistake