By Chioma Nwankwo, Chika Obi and Claribel Udah
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sly Ezeokenwa (Esq), joined thousands of Catholic faithful on Thursday for the Holy Chrism Mass held at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity in Onitsha.
The annual liturgical celebration, a major event in the Catholic calendar, was presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, His Grace Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke. The ceremony, which drew clergy and laity from across the Archdiocese, featured the consecration of the three holy oils—the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism—used in sacraments throughout the ecclesiastical year.
Ezeokenwa’s presence at the Mass was seen as a strong gesture of solidarity with the Christian community and a reaffirmation of APGA’s alignment with moral and spiritual values. Speaking to journalists after the Mass, the APGA Chairman emphasized the need for value-driven leadership grounded in faith and service.
“This sacred celebration reminds us of the importance of consecration—not only of oils but also of our lives to the service of humanity. Leadership must be anchored in humility, guided by vision, and executed with compassion.”
He commended the Catholic Church for its unwavering role in the moral, educational, and social development of Anambra State and the nation at large. He also reaffirmed APGA’s commitment to promoting principles that reflect the collective well-being of the people.
The event marked yet another intersection of faith and public service, highlighting the influence of religious institutions in shaping ethical leadership and community unity.
- Nwankwo, Obi and Udah are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
