Posted by by Ookey Maduforo on
Anambra State House of Assembly members indeed swore a oath of loyalty to Chief Chris Uba, the estranged political godfather of the state governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the Okija shrine, a member of the Assembly, Mr. Humphrey Nsofor, has disclosed in an interview with Saturday Independent.
Anambra State House of Assembly members indeed swore a oath of loyalty to Chief Chris Uba, the estranged political godfather of the state governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the Okija shrine, a member of the Assembly, Mr. Humphrey Nsofor, has disclosed in an interview with Saturday Independent.
The oath taking according to Mr. Nsofor took place in a room at Chief Uba's home at Udoka Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital.
The fresh revelation contradicts allegations by Chief Chuma Nzeribe, a lawmaker representing Ihiala federal constituency at the House of Representatives that Governor Chris Ngige took him to the Ogwugwu Akpu shrine in Okija.
Mr. Nsofor, the majority leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, affirmed that Chief Nzeribe brought the deity to Awka for the 30 lawmakers to take a oath of loyalty to Chief Chris Uba.
全hortly before our election, one of Chris Uba's aides, Chuma Nzeribe and his brother Mr. Nwawulu Bension who contested under the PDP for Ogbaru constituency 祖ame to us and suggested the need for us to bond ourselves together and pledge loyalty to Uba.'
He said when the idea was mooted, he suggested that a man of God should be called to do the bonding.
The majority leader said the following day after the idea was mooted, 選 noticed that Chuma was directing every lawmaker to one room at Uba's house at Udoka Housing Estate. When I entered the room I saw one young man with a small pot called Ogwugwu Akpu Okija, it was then that I had to manifest my faith. I am a Christian and an apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ. I had to caution the young man that I can only swear in the name of God Almighty, and then I left.
全o, on the 4th of July at INEC office Awka, Chris Uba asked me what I said and I told him that he was introducing us to what we never believed in.
選 told him that a man of God was better placed to bind us together. I said it would be wise and proper for the man of God to pray and bind us in love and that this man (Nzeribe) wanted to destroy him. I mentioned an Anglican clergy and he gave me his number to give the clergy and that was all I discussed about it with Uba,' he said.
Mr. Nsofor stated that when Chief Uba and Nzeribe discussed the shrine issue, the lawmakers were not told, adding that they had to sideline Uba when the lawmakers discovered that he was against them.
For his role in not being part of the oath taking, 選 am now being sidelined and they made sure that I was not involved in key issues and discussions.'
The majority leader stated that until the shrine was cleared and all manner of fetish worship eradicated from Anambra State, the Ogwugwu deity and other shrines would continue to be a threat to the spiritual life of people of the state.