There is something deeply troubling about a man who benefits politically from the goodwill, slot, support, and influence of a religious institution, only to turn around and use his political position against that same institution when circumstances become inconvenient.

Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, deputy governor of Anambra state and blood brother of the embattled Bishop of Awka Anglican Diocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim must be reminded of one fundamental truth: political power should never make anyone forget the people and institutions that make that power possible.

The Anglican Church is not an institution that should be taken for granted. If he occupied an Anglican slot in the government as Deputy Governor, then the least expected of him is respect, restraint, and gratitude, not hostility.

Recently, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) suspended Ibezim who is the Anglican Bishop of Awka and Metropolitan Archbishop of Niger for six months.

The Primate, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, directed Ibezim to proceed on leave with immediate effect pending investigations into allegations and recent developments in the diocese.

In a letter dated October 13, 2026, Ndukuba also announced the appointment of the Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, as Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger during Ibezim’s absence.

Although the letter did not specify the nature of the allegations against Ibezim or provide details of the findings contained in the visitation team’s report, it was gathered that Archbishop Ibezim was accused of acting in some ways without authorization by the church.

The Bishop of Aguata, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, has been appointed Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger.

In reaction, Ibezim, has approached the Anambra State High Court to challenge the procedures adopted by the leadership of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in investigating allegations involving him and the diocese.

Ibezim instituted the suit against the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, and the Dean of the Church, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, challenging the constitution of a visitation team and the procedures for disciplinary proceedings against a serving bishop.

However, in the originating summons filed on October 13 at the Awka Judicial Division of the Anambra State High Court, Ibezim is seeking an interpretation of provisions of the Church’s 2020 Constitution and Canons governing disciplinary proceedings against serving bishops.

The suit, marked A/371/2026, names Ndukuba as the first defendant and Enyindah as the second defendant. Enyindah is also identified in the court document as chairman of the visitation team constituted by the Primate.

Ibezim is asking the court to declare that the procedures stipulated in the Church’s Constitution and Canons must be followed before disciplinary measures are imposed on a serving bishop.

Today, the controversy surrounding Deputy Governor Ibezim’s support for his suspended elder brother, raises serious questions about the boundary between family loyalty and public responsibility. No individual, regardless of family ties or political influence, should be above accountability.

And if government security operatives were indeed being deployed to intimidate, pressure, or fight the Church in an internal ecclesiastical dispute, then that development deserves firm public scrutiny.

Let this be clear: supporting a brother does not justify turning the machinery of government against a religious institution. Family loyalty must not come at the expense of public responsibility.

How did it happen? Let’s help remind Onyeka how he emerged. When Prof Charles Soludo emerged as APGA’s flag bearer, the party’s leadership reportedly reached out to the Anglican community in Anambra State to nominate a deputy governor, given that Prof. Charles Soludo belongs to the Catholic Church. This arrangement was in keeping with a political tradition that had reportedly shaped power sharing in Anambra State for the past 20 years.

Fortunately, when the Anglican leadership was approached, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Revd Alex Ibezim (the head of Anglican family in Anambra) nominated his younger brother, Onyeka for the position.

At the time, Onyeka was serving as Special Adviser to the then Governor, Willie Obiano, on Herbal Medicine (Another slot that belonged to the Anglican family).

This decision by his brother Archbishop sidelined other highly qualified candidates, particularly those from Anambra Central, who were considered better suited for the position.

The circumstances surrounding how the deputy governorship slot was allegedly cornered and bought for, including claims that part of the proceeds from diocesan land sales were used for the transaction deserves closer scrutiny. That, however, is a story for another day.

Onyeka Ibezim should remember that public office is temporary. Political influence comes and goes. But the institutions and communities that help shape political history deserve to be treated with respect, not contempt.

If the Anglican Church created the political seat he occupies, then he should have the humility to acknowledge that history rather than behave as though he arrived at Government House entirely by his own strength.

The Anglican Church deserves respect. The public deserves accountability. And no political officeholder should ever confuse the privilege of public service with the personal ownership of government power.

Suffice it to say that power is temporary, character is the legacy. Gratitude is a virtue. And no one should be so politically elevated that they forget the road that brought them there.