The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, has alleged that the recent surge in insecurity in the state could be attributed to the activities of “fake prophets”, who urge the youths to seek wealth by all means without work.
“The new wave of insecurity in Anambra has its roots in preaching wealth without work championed by the likes of Fr. Emmanuel Obimma,” Mefor alleged.
He accused Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma popularly known as Ebube Muonso and his ilk of teaching youths to believe in sudden wealth without hard work, perseverance, and morality. “Such virtues that accounted for the outstanding successes of Ndi Anambra and Ndigbo in general are now assailed by their wrong teachings,” Mefor stated.
Mefor also criticized Ebube Muonso’s method of preaching, which relies on esotericism and controversies. “Ebube Muonso started out over a decade ago and has been involved in several controversies, including a stampede in his church in 2010 that claimed many lives,” he said.
Mefor quoted Mahatma Gandhi, who described wealth without work as one of the seven mortal sins. “Gandhi was a moral compass for the Indians of his generation and still is. But in Nigeria, the so-called men and women of God are selling prayers, prophecies, and miracles to the highest bidders,” he said.
Mefor also accused Ebube Muonso of encouraging indolence among his followers. “There are worshippers in his church praying for miracles at the hours they ought to be at work. The solution to hardship is hard work, good health, and trust in God, not prayers alone,” he said.
The Commissioner expressed concern that generally the activities of fake prophets have contributed to the rise in crime and insecurity in the state. “Miracle prayers for wealth without work are perfectly correlated with crime, and here is how. Most people who are praying for sudden wealth, in their desperation, sink deeper into rituals and idolatry,” he said.
He noted that the trend has led to social disorders and failures, rather than successful people. “Such preaching has created social disorders and failures rather than successful people and is therefore more of a problem than a solution. It attacks the Igbo wealth code, which is hard work, integrity, patience, and belief in God,” Mefor said.
Mefor also pointed out that the Catholic Church needs to call priests with such tendencies to order. “They are tainting the church. These so-called prophets and miracle merchants command God to act on the misplaced prayer requests of the adorers of their churches who pay for such miracle prayers and prophecies,” he said.
He called on Ebube Muonso to repent and join the state government in finding a lasting solution to the insecurity in the state. “He needs to be told in unambiguous terms that many of the youths he has misled are stranded, which has culminated in and accounts in part for the insecurity he complains about today,” Mefor said.
Meanwhile, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has launched “Operation Udo Ga-Achi” (Operation Peace Shall Reign), a comprehensive security initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state. The operation will involve the six leading security agencies and will utilize advanced surveillance technology, branded vehicles for stop-and-search activities, and trained forest guards.
Mefor warned that the state government would not tolerate any form of criminality, including kidnapping. “Any property used for kidnapping will be confiscated by the government and levelled to the ground as a deterrent,” he said.
He advised Ndi Anambra who built houses and live outside the state to ensure that such buildings are not used for criminal activities. “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” Mefor said.
Mefor stated that Anambra is rising because the solution is here. “There is nothing the diatribe of a million Ebube Muonsos can do to stop the moving train,” he said.
