Rev. Fr. George Nkeze has apologized to the Bishop of Buea, Michael Bibi following unwarranted statements thrown at the Bishop when he was firsr appointed to the Diocese of Buea as Apostolic Administrator.
The Diocese of Buea made the apology public on July 29, 2026. In a statement to priests, religious people, and christ lay faithful, Bishop Bibi said he received a letter from Fr. Nkeze. The letter was written on February 6, 2026, and Fr. Nkeze gave permission for it to be made public.
In the letter, Fr. Nkeze said he failed to fully obey directives given by his bishop. He expressed regret for his actions. He asked for forgiveness and promised to remain committed to his work as a priest, to the Catholic Church, and to the Diocese of Buea.
Bishop Bibi said he will give a formal reply in the coming days "so that we can bring this matter to an end." He also asked Catholics to pray for unity, healing, and peace in the diocese.
The apology letter was attached to the bishop's statement. In it, Fr. Nkeze thanked Bishop Bibi for speaking with him by phone during the bishop's visit to the United States, and for agreeing to meet him on a future trip.
"I recognize that I made errors in judgment and action in not following such directives. For this, I offer my sincere apology and respectfully ask for your fatherly understanding and forgiveness."
He also asked to be remembered in the bishop's prayers.
This appears to be a turning point in a dispute that has lasted for several years and drawn a lot of attention in Cameroon's Catholic community.
The disagreement started in 2020. At that time, Bishop Bibi, who was then Apostolic Administrator of Buea, made major changes at the Catholic University Institute of Buea, CUIB. One of the changes was removing Fr. George Nkeze as president of the university. The decision caused opposition from some staff, students, and supporters of the priest. This later led to legal issues and public arguments about how the university and the diocese should be run.
Over the years, the disagreement grew beyond the university. There were public statements, petitions, and social media campaigns from supporters on both sides. Bishop Bibi said that challenging his authority was interference in the work of the diocese, and that Church authority must be respected.
Fr. George Nkeze was ordained a priest in 1992. He served for many years as President of CUIB and is well known for his work in Catholic education and pastoral work in Buea.
Bishop Bibi has not yet said what will happen next after the apology. But many people see his decision to publish the letter as a sign that efforts to reconcile are underway.
For many Catholics in the Diocese of Buea, the exchange of letters is a chance to heal divisions that have affected the local Church for years. What happens next to Fr. Nkeze's ministry and other decisions will depend on the bishop's response in the days ahead.
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