A major controversy has erupted in Nnewi, Anambra State, following the inauguration of the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, after a Catholic knight publicly renounced Christianity. The action was taken to protest what he described as the failure of the Catholic Church to acknowledge the contribution of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to the construction of the cathedral.
The cathedral, described by many as a very large and beautiful building, was officially opened for worship on Tuesday. The event attracted religious leaders, politicians, traditional rulers and many Catholic faithful from within and outside Anambra State.
However, the celebration was overshadowed by the emotional protest of a knight of the Catholic Church, Sir James Louise, also known as Ebube Anaedo. He accused the church authorities of deliberately ignoring the role played by the late Senator Ubah in building the cathedral.
According to information gathered, the construction of the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral was initiated by the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South Senatorial District until his death in 2024. Ubah, a businessman and politician, reportedly volunteered to build the cathedral for the Catholic Church in Nnewi as part of his commitment to faith and community development.
Sources said Senator Ubah personally funded and supervised the project, bringing it to about 85 per cent completion. The project was widely known in Nnewi, and many residents believed that the cathedral was largely the result of his effort and financial support.
Trouble reportedly started in 2022 when a new Bishop, Dr. Jonas-Benson Okoye, was posted to the Nnewi Catholic Diocese. It was gathered that the Bishop ordered Senator Ubah to stop further involvement in the cathedral project. This decision reportedly caused tension between the Bishop and the Senator.
Many people in the community were said to be unhappy with the development, insisting that the credit for building the cathedral should not be taken away from Senator Ubah, who had already invested huge resources into the project. Despite the disagreement, construction of the cathedral continued until it was completed.
During the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, many expected that the late Senator would be recognised for his role, either through a mention during the mass or in the official brochure of the event. However, according to witnesses, his name was not mentioned at all.
This omission sparked anger and emotional reactions, especially from Sir James Louise, who openly protested after the mass. In a video that has since gone viral on social media, Louise was seen crying and expressing deep pain over what he described as injustice.
The Catholic knight removed his shoes and cap, which are part of the regalia worn by members of the Catholic knighthood. This act symbolised his decision to renounce his position and, according to him, his Christian faith.
“This is my last day as a Christian. I’m done. This is awful,” Louise said in the video.
“How could anyone believe that this cathedral which Ifeanyi Ubah slaved to build could be inaugurated without a mention of his name? This is bad. I’m done with Christianity. This is my last day as a Christian.”
His emotional outburst shocked many worshippers present at the event and later sparked widespread reactions online. Many social media users condemned the Catholic Church for what they described as a lack of gratitude and fairness.
Several commentators argued that acknowledging contributors to church projects is a common practice and that failing to recognise Senator Ubah’s effort was wrong, especially given the scale of his involvement. Others, however, cautioned that renouncing Christianity over the issue was too extreme and urged calm.
The late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was a well-known figure in Anambra State and Nigeria at large. He was the founder of Capital Oil and Gas and later entered politics, where he served as a senator and also contested the Anambra governorship election. He was known for his philanthropy, including donations to churches, schools and community projects.
Ubah’s supporters say his involvement in the cathedral project was not done for recognition but out of faith and love for the church. They argue, however, that basic acknowledgement would have been a mark of respect to his memory and family.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nnewi Catholic Diocese had not issued any official statement explaining why Senator Ubah was not acknowledged during the inauguration. Attempts to get a response from church officials were unsuccessful.
The silence from the diocese has further fueled speculation and debate, with many calling on the Bishop to address the matter and calm tensions. Some community leaders have also urged both the church and aggrieved individuals to handle the issue peacefully to avoid further division.
The incident has also raised questions about how disputes between donors and religious authorities should be handled, especially when large projects are involved. Observers say clear agreements and open communication could prevent such conflicts in the future.
Despite the controversy, many Catholics in Nnewi have continued to celebrate the completion of the cathedral, describing it as a major achievement for the diocese. They hope the issue surrounding Senator Ubah’s contribution will be resolved through dialogue.
For now, Sir James Louise’s dramatic decision has drawn national attention to the matter, turning what should have been a moment of joy into a subject of public debate. Whether the Catholic Church will respond formally or acknowledge the late Senator’s role remains to be seen.