A Catholic knight, Sir James Louise, also known as Ebube Anaedo, has publicly renounced Christianity, citing the church’s failure to recognize the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s contributions to the construction of the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral in Nnewi.
The cathedral, a colourful and grand structure, was inaugurated on Wednesday, attracting numerous dignitaries. Ubah had reportedly volunteered to fund and oversee about 85 percent of the construction before a new Bishop, Dr Jonas-Benson Okoye, was posted to Nnewi in 2022 and allegedly instructed him to step aside. This led to tensions over credit for the project.
During the inauguration, Louise expressed his disappointment that Ubah’s name was not mentioned in the brochure or during the ceremony. In a video circulating online, he broke down in tears, removed his shoes and cap—symbols of his knighthood—and declared, “This is my last day as a Christian. I’m done… How could anyone believe that this cathedral which Ifeanyi Ubah slaved to build could be inaugurated without a mention of his name?”
The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many criticizing the church for not acknowledging the late senator’s contributions. The Nnewi Catholic Diocese has not yet responded to the controversy.
