Chief Onyemelukwe Eusebius Zonyelu, former Senatorial candidate of the Action Peoples Party (APP) in the recently concluded Anambra South senatorial by-election, joined Catholic faithful at the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 celebration organized by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria. The event took place on Sunday, September 21, at the International Sanctuary of Jesus the Savior and Mother Mary, Elele, Port Harcourt Diocese, Rivers State.
Speaking during the spiritual gathering, Chief Onyemelukwe described the Jubilee Year of Hope as a sacred period in the Catholic Church that comes once every 25 years a time dedicated to renewal, forgiveness, mercy, hope, and pilgrimage.
He held a special discussion with the Vatican’s representative at the event, His Excellency Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty from Ireland, where he appealed for prayers for Nigeria and its leaders. Chief Onyemelukwe specifically mentioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, asking for divine guidance and wisdom in their leadership. Archbishop Crotty assured him of Vatican’s prayers and blessings for Nigeria.He took selfie with His Excellency Most Rev Michael Francis Crotty.
In his remarks, Chief Onyemelukwe also expressed gratitude to Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel Edeh, founder of the International Sanctuary of Jesus the Savior and Mother Mary, for his numerous contributions to the Church and society. He lauded Fr. Edeh’s pioneering efforts in establishing several institutions including Madonna University, Caritas University, Osisatech Polytechnic, as well as religious congregations such as the Priests, Sisters, and Monks of Jesus the Savior.
The former senatorial candidate extended appreciation to President Tinubu for past and ongoing efforts to lift Nigerians out of poverty, noting that he offered special prayers for him at the sanctuary. He equally commended Governor Soludo for his developmental strides in Anambra State and urged him to remain steadfast despite criticisms, assuring him of his prayers at the holy site.
Chief Onyemelukwe concluded with patriotic remarks, saying:
“Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Long live President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
Long live Governor Charles Soludo Nwangbafor.”
