By Juliana Nwachukwu
The 3-3 Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Rev. CSP Chukwunonso Adulphus Onunkwor has continued to receive encomiums from the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP, Ikioye Orutugu, President of Amalgamated Estates, ’33’ Community Association, Hon. Simeon Ogude, State branch of Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, and Onitsha Police Area Commander, Chidi Nzota over his collation as Canon of the Diocese on the Niger, by the Bishop of the Niger, His Lordship, Rt, Rev.Dr.Owen Nwokolo
During the collation of scores of the clerics as canons, the Bishop enjoined them to abide by their oath of office and not to drag the image of the church to the mud by being interested in earthly wealth and involving themselves in homosexuality, among others.
The new canons swore before the Bishop that they would abstain from such evil acts and focus on the gospel by agreeing to be fishers of men.
Commending the DPO, ’33’, Rev. Canon Onunkwor for his elevation, the state Police Commissioner, Orutugu, says he appreciates police personnel being involved in religious ministry as it helped to maintain peace and unity of the country.
“God will continue to protect us with this your pastoral services. When I decided to go into pastoral work I looked at my age and said that age is no longer on my side.”
Speaking, the President of Amalgamated Estates/Estate stakeholders, Ogude, said that the community was happy with the elevation of their DPO to canon and attributed it to hard-work.
“We are so glad with his elevation, we are so happy to have him as our DPO, since he came to ’33’ Police Division, there has been rapid infrastructural development in the area.
“We have cordial relationship with the police especially on security. We are not surprise with the elevation of the DPO as a canon, there is peace in the community,” Ogude further said.
Contributing, the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Chidi Nzota, expressed satisfaction with the religious call of Onunkwor, adding that it shows God also supports and recognizes the work of Police which is sacrifice to God and humanity.
The Onitsha Police Area Commander, who residents described as crime burster, reiterated the need for all to see God as creator and do His wishes.
The State Chairman of Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, Evangelist Vincent Ezekwueme, said that DPO Onunkwor’s elevation would spur him to do more especially now that he is a canon.
He expressed satisfaction with the police in Onitsha and environs for their hard work to ensure crime free Onitsha even as he paid glowing tribute to the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Nzota, saying that Nzota has performed wonderfully well especially in crime prevention that he needs to be immediately promoted to DCP to enable him to perform more.
In his response, the new canon, Onunkwor, said that his elevation was the wish of God for him to serve Him, pointing out that he never expected to be called as one of those to be honoured as canons.
He, however, traced his willingness to serve God to when he was born but because of political-economic down turn the fufure idea to serve God was not that bright for him until the time came that he must serve.
“I didn’t even join this ministry because I was hungry, no, God has blessed me already, with children, houses, cars, among others, it is just to serve God that remains.
“I didn’t know that my efforts have been recognized because there are scores of priests out there that are better than me. I didn’t even go to the last synod where the idea to elevate me as one of the canons was tabled.
“I was fished out to be collated as a canon and I see it as a sacrifice. As DPO, which is police work and a canon, both perform same duty, which is sacrifice, even if people hate the police, still when they are in need they call us.
“For my boss, CP Orutugu to be here to celebrate with me shows that I am a man of good things. He is here with me and it is good encouragement because he knows with God on our side the police in the state will surmount all crimes and criminality,” he stated.
The wife of the canon, Mrs. Chinonyerem Chikodili Onunkwor, while thanking God for the husband’s elevation, vowed to use her position to serve God also.
She paid glowing tribute to the Bishop on the Niger, Nwokolo, who she said God used to elevate her husband and reiterated her unalloyed commitment to serve God as a mother.
Juliana is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
