Prophet Odumeje ‘warns’ senator Ngige, rains dollars on Igwe Okonkwo at Alor Ofala, as Alor PG, others blast Ngige

By Chukwudi Ndubeze and Covenant Oluchi Ikedinobi

Prophet Odumeje yesterday at Alor community, Idemili South local government area, Anambra state warned detractors of the traditional ruler of Alor, Igwe MacAnthony Chinedu Elibe Okonkwo to desist for the sake of peace in the community.

This is coming as Prophet Odumeje rained foreign currencies on the traditional ruler of Alor community, Igwe MacAnthony Okonkwo.

During the Ofala ceremony which is the 3rd Ofala festival of Igwe Okonkwo and which holds every December 30th of every year, the Onitsha based self-acclaimed controversial Prophet whose real name is Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, better known as Prophet Odumeje was present at the 2020 Ofala festival of the Alor traditional ruler.

He thrilled the people in the arena into frenzy as he emptied his briefcase  loaded with dollars and Nigerian currencies.

The cleric, also known by a plethora of names including the ‘Indaboski Pahose’, ‘lion himself’, ‘the fight’, ‘the liquid metal’, ‘Lebadu’, ‘Seplae’, ‘fireman’, and ‘ladical plophet’, thrilled the people of Alor and their visitors with his musical performance and sang styled ‘odumeje agaba’ song to the admiration of the king, subjects and guests.

With strings of dramas and controversies, Odumeje who has etched his name on the minds of many Nigerians later followed the traditional ruler to his palatial home after the first phase of the Ofala festival at the ancestral Obi Alor. He gave the event a spirited ending after the  event started in a very dull spirit following the events of the preceding day.

Odumeje, who is the leader of Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministry while praying for divine protection of the Alor traditional ruler, MacAnthony Okonkwo urged the people of Alor and Igbos in general to eschew bitterness and disunity by embracing unity and love which according to him heralds progress and development.

He advised  Alor people to remember that they are one and must live together as one to move the town forward so as to lay foundation of peace for the upcoming youths who according to him will take charge in the future. 

Appreciating his presence, the embattled traditional ruler, Igwe MacAnthony Chinedu Okonkwo said that he felt honoured to welcome Odumeje to his Ofala festival, adding that God has used him to bless people.

The traditional ruler who was among the 12 suspended traditional  rulers by Anambra state government, but recently forgiven and reinstated by the government said:” I celebrated my Ofala at Obi Alor today. We are having three feasts today. The first one is the Ofala, followed by Thanksgiving and the third to thank Governor Willie Obiano for lifting the one year suspension he gave me after just four months”.

The traditional ruler said that the governor followed up the lifting of suspension with paying all the stipends and arrears due to him and even a car that he had given to the other traditional rulers in the state.

Igwe Okonkwo reassured his people  that peace has returned in the community, saying, ” there is peace in the land now, though some people said that my Ofala will not hold and that there will be confusion and violence but God did not allow that to happen.”

He described them as empty threats ,adding that power lies only in the hands of God and not in man.

Describing the outgoing year as a year of turbulence, he  prayed that the  year 2021 will bring life and a better fortune for his people and Nigerians at large. He also thanked Governor Willie Obiano for lifting the suspension placed on him earlier and prayed that God will reward him.

However, before the Ofala held on Wednesday, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu dislodged policemen the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige had brought to the ancient palace of Alor, the seat of power of Alor Government.

This was possible after an order came from the Chief Security officer of the state, Governor Willie Obiano.

www.odogwublog.com learnt that on Monday the 28th day of December that some fierce looking policemen and some thugs invaded the sacred ancient OBI ALOR under the instructions of Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment to stop Igwe Okonkwo from holding his Ofala at the Obi Alor.

Flowing the order from the IGP, Igwe Okonkwo celebrated his Ofala in Obi Alor against the take over initially by Ngige’s faction.

However, following the dismissal from the Obi Alor, the Senator Ngige faction led by Chief Uzoma Igbonwa of Alor People’s Assembly was said to have held their Ofala later termed Thanksgiving at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church , Alor.

Speaking on the issue, Ambassador Apostle Amaka Achike said “They gave Igwe Okonkwo suspension but little did Ngige’s faction know that government will still call him back. So, today, government called him back and he is celebrating with his people. So what they did there is harvest and barzar and not Ofala. Ofala is happening here at the rightful place at Obi Alor.

“So, whatever they are doing there, we as Alor People did not accept it and Anambra state government through which they know the traditional ruler rejected it. Governor Willie Obiano himself knows the actual traditional ruler in the community. So, what they are doing is harvest and barzar and we are doing the real Ofala.

Achike who said she is a prophetess noted  that a lot of people thought there will be trouble, and bloodshed in the land but which she said did not happen.

“I thank God that at the end of the day it came to pass and there is peace in our community.  What we want in the community is peace though in life, we disagree to agree later.”

Dr. Ben Udeze (Onowu Alor) described Igwe Okonkwo as a man for all and he who cares for his people.

“I thank God that we have his kind of Igwe because we no longer pay dues, he does almost everything for us. Despite the fact he had problem with the government, I can’t say he is a bad man because he has been good to his people.

“It is rather unfortunate, I go by the law. People ask why I’m with Igwe Okonkwo,  I’m not with him only because of the law but because he is a dedicated leader. I’m a law abiding citizen having served as the National Vice President of Police Relations Committee  and Governor of the Rotary Club International, so anything that is contrary to the law, I do not go there. I’m here in respect of the law, in respect of the state government and in respect of our community.”

The President General of Alor community, Comrade Chris Okudo while speaking about the Igbonwa led faction in the communitysaid: “They are at St. Mary’s Catholic Church doing whatever they like. As of now, we heard they are denying that they are not doing Ofala. They are now saying that they are doing Thanksgiving service. Everything about what they are doing there is out of place.

Comrade Okudo while blaming the  crisis experienced in the community on Senator Ngige said that all that the community is asking for is peace, adding that he is ready to relinquish his position as President General for peace and harmony to thrive again. His words”.

“As the President General of the community, all that we are pleading is for peace. We have written to Ngige to  give us time to settle whatever is the case, Alor is a small community, we can have problems and we can as well settle it. Personally, I’m ready to leave this seat for peace to reign. Ngige seems incommunicado, you can’t see him, he can’t allow you. He is doing as if nobody is up to his level, but we are here today and nobody knows he is existing.

“What is holding here today nobody believed will still take place because as at yesterday, Ngige and his people were making announcement that they are the people that will take over this place (the ancestral Obi).

Also, the spokesperson of Alor Community,  Reverend Innocent Chukwudi Udochukwu said that what took place in the arena was double celebration.

According to him, for victory over their oppressors and for lifting the suspension placed on  Igwe Okonkwo.

“We were about to celebrate the victory here, the seat of power of Alor people’s convention and the Igwe in council but Dr. Chris Ngige who is the Minister of Labor and Employment who has been giving us serious troubles in this town started to bring in the police that for the past two days, his police had cordoned off this place, destroyed our canopies we planned to use for the celebration but an order came yesterday from Inspector General of Police that they should vacate this place for us because the ancestral Obi is the seat of power for the Igwe and the people’s convention. So to me, its a double celebration. We are celebrating our victory over our oppressor, Ngige. We are also celebrating the lifting of the suspension on our traditional ruler.

He advised authorities to call Ngige to order as according to him, Ngige can still do and undo as a Federal Minister. ” if the power that be can call him to order and make him realize that he is not God and he cannot do and undo, that he must follow the rule of law and orders, I think peace with naturally follow”. 

Speaking against the perceived factions in the community, he said there are no factions in the town insisting that the only faction in the community is Ngige who according to him is trying to be a god and a law unto himself. He said that Alor people are united and know what they want.”

Ngige wants to play god that is what is bringing semblance of division in our land but apart from that, we are one and united. The only people that are putting clogs to our unity is Dr. Chris Ngige because he feels that because he has been a governor, a Senator and a Minister. He came to this very ground last year and told us that nobody in Alor will get to his level in life. He said that he can lock anybody and throw the key away. He is the one trying to tear our community apart, ” he said.

Also at the event, Igwe Okonkwo conferred traditional title on member representing Orumba North/ South Federal Constituency, Hon Okwudili Ezenwankwo.

While decorating the the politician, Igwe Okonkwo said that the politician has made positive contributions to the people of the state.

Reacting, Hon Ezenwankwo who  was given the title of Dike-Anagbaraizu n’ Alor was full of praises for Igwe Okonkwo for his love and magnanimity, adding that the traditional ruler has a habit of helping the people even before  he ascended the throne of power.

He advised people to live a charitable life and a life of giving as according to him a little support  to a neighbor goes a long way to save life. He also urged the people to pray for the state ahead of the upcoming election so that God will select the rightful candidate for the state.