By Charles Igwe
Rev. Fr. Anthony Akinwale, OP, a respected Catholic theologian and former vice chancellor of Dominican University, Ibadan, has publicly called out former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, over what he described as a false claim regarding the ownership of St. Philomena Hospital. In a statement shared via his official Facebook page, Fr. Akinwale responded to Oshiomhole’s remarks in a televised interview where the senator allegedly described the hospital as property of the Edo State Government.
Fr. Akinwale, who is known for his critical social commentaries, categorically dismissed the claim, stating, “The hospital belongs to the Catholic Church. Oshiomhole is Catholic. He is a member of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO). He ought to have known.” He went further to clarify that in a democratic society, no property inherently belongs to the government, but rather to the people who empower government officials through the ballot to serve as custodians and protectors of public and private assets.
Drawing on local expressions to drive his point, the priest compared government officials to “maigad”—a Nigerian colloquialism for a security guard—insisting that those elected to protect should not lay claim to ownership. “It is this absurd presupposition that makes them change names of institutions at will,” he added, warning against the misuse of power and the disregard for democratic principles.
In a sharp critique of Oshiomhole’s understanding of democracy, Fr. Akinwale concluded, “Even the government belongs to the people. That is why we vote. But Adams Oshiomhole, a senator, does not seem to understand this basic tenet of democracy.”
