Ebonyi Community: Pastor, Philanthropist at War over Deity’s Land.

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT(ABAKAKIKI)
The  Pastor of the Hope of God Deliverance  Ministry in Ugboenyim Ezzagu, Ezekuna Community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Okechukwu Ogbodo, and a notable philanthropist, Mr. Onybuchi Nwede, were last Saturday, locked in a controversy over ownership of a piece of land housing a deity in the area. 

Problem according to our correspondent who monitored the issue arose when both men engaged themselves in a war of words over who between the Church and the deity was the rightful owner of the  property.                  

The philanthropist, Mr Nwede  was said to have arrived from his base with building materials, for the purpose of building a house for the godess located at Inyaba River in the said community.

Our Correspondent who visited Ugboenyim reports that what could have led to a crisis was averted by the intervention of some peace-loving elders and citizens of the area.                         

Some members of the the Hope of God Deliverance Ministry and worshipers of the deity were opposed to both God and the goddess sharing the same potion of land, with each of the parties  laying claim rightful claim to the land and superiority of their faith.

The disagreement was said to have been partly resolved following the intervention of some elders of the Community, who held that  historically, the River goddess’s existed on the controversial potion of land before the make shift structure of the said Church’ was erected on the land by the Pastor of the said Church.   

                        
The elders appealed to the youths who had gathered in support of the goddess to respect coexistence of both Christianity and the goddess in their community, in the spirit of peace, unity and ecumenism’.

247thirdeye.com reports authoritatively that the traditionalists in the area had accused Pastor Okechukwu Ogbodo of double standard and  extortion of an undisclosed sum of money running into thousands of Naira from people who visited the said goddess for solutions to their problems.   

                                
Our Correspondent could however not ascertain the President General of the Community’s involvement in the alleged Pastors extortions which is controversial.

When contacted, the philanthropist, Onyebuchi Nwede (Pastor Nweonweya Onweya Adighi Atuya Egwu), both members of the community, said the alleged action(s) of the pastor was  detrimental to the tradition and culture of Ugbo Enyim Community, noting that the Constitution of Nigeria  provided for the freedom of worship and that anything short of that will be resisted by the community.

Reacting, Pastor Okechukwu Ogbodo said he was given the potion of the controversial land by some leaders of the community and has kept the environment clean and as well, never fell short of anything detrimental to the tradition and culture of Ugbownyim in Ezekuna Community.

When contacted on his Mobile phone, the President General of Ugbo Enyim Community,  Mr. Onyebuchi Nweke-Awo was antagonistic and questioned our Correspondent’s interest in the story. 

              
He queried our right to visit his community without an invitation from his office even as he threatened to take it. action against our  Platform should the story see the light of the day.

Reacting to the development, in an interview with our Correspondent,  the traditional ruler of the community, Ezeogo Innocent Nworie distanced his Palace from the action(s) of the Pentecostal Pastor and warned those behind the  controversy  in his Kingdom over the matter to have a rethink.

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He Comended Onyebuchi Nwede for deemiing it fit to provide shelter for the goddess and  regretted that the life of the  Chief Priest of the deity, Mr. Clement Omah was cutt short when faceless individuals burnt down the ‘worship Centre’  of the goddess some months ago. He said that with a house over the deity,  some of the spiritual  problems confronting the community would soon be over.

“How can a Pentecostal clergy stop one of our illustrious sons from building a house for the goddess of the river?  Can’t the house provide shelter for both the Church members and, traditional ecclesiastical after completion? We are appreciating Onyebuchi Nwede for his generosity and we are praying God to replenish his purse in hundreds of folds”. The traditional ruler stated.