By Micheal Nnebife
The Chairman, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Hon Rome Ibekwe, has expressed his resolve to sustain the state government’s fight against obnoxious African Religious practices in the area.
The Chairman gave the indication while speaking with the press, shortly after a Mass during the episcopal visit of the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, to St Peter’s Church, Adazi-Ani in Anaocha LGA recently.
Hon Ibekwe regretted that today’s youths had been bastardized by social media, making people think that neo-paganism was a way of life.
‘However, they don’t know that paganism is a way to death. One thing I know is that we have only one beneficial faith and only one Christ who is our Lord that leads us.
‘Any other religion youths are getting involved in leads to destruction,’ Ibekwe said.
He thanked the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for being determined to rid the state of criminal elements, whom he said, called themselves native doctors and were deceiving the youths.
‘At the local government level, we are active to make sure we join forces to flush out those criminal elements.
Okeito is not in Igbo culture; paganism is not a part of Igbo tradition.
‘So, we cannot allow it to be growing,’ Ibekwe said, while also thanking the Church for helping in the fight against paganism through its teachings and doctrines.
The Anaocha Mayor, who is a staunch Catholic, expressed joy that the Catholic Church was going deeper in converting souls for Christ in the area.
‘We always rally round to make sure that we support them in winning souls for Christ,’ the Mayor said.
He expressed satisfaction with what he described as the huge number of young Catholics of St Peter’s, Adazi-Ani who were confirmed by Bishop Ezeokafor during the visit to the parish.
The Mayor who said Anaocha Local Government was exceptional in Christianity, described the huge number of the newly confirmed as a clear indication of the children’s and youths’ upcoming in Christendom in the area.
Also, the member representing Anaocha I Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Chinwe Ogbuefi, advised youths in Anaocha LGA to come back to God for abundant wealth and blessings that give no sorrow and regrets.
Regretting that okite (money making ritual) and get-rich-quick syndromes had taken a toll on today’s youths, the Lawmaker reminded the youths that God gave wealth and everything good in abundance without adding any sorrow.
