![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
In line with its fundamental values, stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have resolved to shun any form of anti-party activities.
This was the resolution of the meeting held on Saturday when Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and leaders of the party, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, met in Abuja to deliberate on the fate of the party.
The party stakeholders renewed their commitment to discipline any form of anti-party activity in the interest of the party.
At the end of the meeting, which was held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, these and other resolutions were announced in a communiqué issued by Gov. Bala Mohammed, the executive governor of Bauchi State.
Reading the communiqué, Gov. Mohammed said, “The meeting emphasised the need for party discipline and reiterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage. No individual or group of individuals will be allowed to undermine the unity of the party and its processes.
“The meeting committed to repositioning and stabilising the party. To this end, the healing and reconciliation process is in progress and yielding results.
“The meeting signalled that unity and loyalty are still core values of the PDP and would be rewarded.
“All the Governors and organs of the party solidly support the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP Vice Presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescue the stolen mandate in the tribunal and would do everything lawful towards achieving this.
“The Governors will work in partnership with the party at the state and national levels to ensure good governance, transparency, and accountability.
“The meeting congratulated the party for impanelling the campaign councils for the off-session elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States and urged the campaign councils to ensure victory for the party in the three States.”
Faulting the number of ministerial nominees to serve in the President Bola Tinubu-led government, the PDP leaders also called on Tinubu to curtail the cost of governance.
“The meeting counselled the Federal Government to show leadership in curtailing the cost of Governance. 48 Ministers and several Special Advisers and Assistants should be reduced to ensure the health of our economy.
“The meeting advised the President, Commander in Chief, and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country. Rather, all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed,” the communiqué further read.
In attendance at the meeting were Atiku Abubakar, Ifeanyi Okowa, Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.
Others included Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Also present were the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Taofeek Arapaja; and the National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the party, Dan Orbih, among others.
Notably absent at the meeting was the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Although the reason for Gov. Fubara’s absence remains unknown, a party source said the Rivers governor is playing the loyalty card, having been advised by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, not to shoulder the party’s financial responsibilities.
“The Rivers Governor didn’t give a reason for his absence, but his political mentor and the former Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, has not mended fences with the PDP and is unlikely to do so. This may have explained why he was away. He (Fubara) was said to have been advised by Wike not to spend money on the party like he (Wike) did while he was in power,” he said.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
