The Anambra State Government says Bishop Crowther Memorial Primary School Onitsha remains a public owned school.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor , Mr James Eze in reaction to the recent protest by some priests from the Diocese on the Niger (the Anglican Communion) over the ownership of Crowther Memorial Primary School, Onitsha disclosed that what is today know as Crowther Memorial Primary School used to be one of the five Onitsha Urban County Council schools before the Biafran War and was renamed after the war to Crowther Memorial Primary School b the Ukpabi Asika administration, stating that change of name did not affect its ownership and management which is totally by the Government of Anambra State.
It explained that even when the previous administration handed some schools back to the Missions, Crowther Memorial Primary School was not one of those schools and has remained a government owned public school till date.
The statement said the current controversy which led to the protest was created by a certain Bishop and his wife who wanted to use the site for a foundation without obtaining approval from the government and when their efforts were halted by the appropriate authorities, they incited some priests in the Diocese to stage a protest over what rightly belongs to the government.
It noted that the Government of AnambraState under Governor Willie Obiano has enjoyed very peaceful and cordial relations with all denominations of the church in Anambra State including the Pentecostals, the Anglicans and the Catholics and has supported all the synods hosted by the Anglican Church and assisted in the hosting of all its visiting dignitaries to the state since the administration came into existence.
The statement noted that in sustenance of the Mission Schools initiative, the Obiano administration has so far donated the sum of six hundred million naira to three hundred schools owned by the Anglican Church in Anambra State while in the aspect of school infrastructure, it has so far constructed eighty-two classrooms and four VIP toilets in twenty-four compartments in Anglican schools and also provided two thousand, five hundred and ninety-six units of tables and chairs to these schools all at estimated cost of one hundred, and sixty eight million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira.
The statement noted that the administration has donated the sum of two hundred and sixty-six million in funding to hospitals owned by the Anglican Church in which Iyienu Hospital alone gulped one hundred million naira in 2014 and has helped to rebuild all the internal roads in most hospitals owned by the church in the state as well as continued to pay the salaries of teachers and offer subventions to Mission Schools.
It made it clear that the Obiano administration is neither against the Diocese on the Niger nor the Anglican Church in Anambra State.
The statement stressed that the Government of Anambra State cannot fold its hands and watch its property invaded and forcibly taken away by anybody or group of people no matter how highly placed nor tolerate any attempt to intimidate; blackmail or arm-twist it into surrendering a government property to any individual or group.
It warned the general public to resist any attempt to cajole anyone into taking sides with people who are bent on breaching the peace and fomenting trouble in the state because such people shall be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
It noted that the case is already in court and advised the protesting priests to give peace a chance and allow the law to take its full course as is the standard in every true democratic setting.
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