On January 18th, 2025, Prof Chukwuma Soludo the Anambra State Governor unveiled the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025 and launched a special security operation to be known as “Operation Udo Ga-Achi” as well as the establishment of Agunaechemba, a new vigilante architecture, to assist and complement Federal security forces.
This is certainly a welcome development since the spate of insecurity in the State had become alarming and an affront to his office as the State’s chief security officer. As chief security officers of their states, governors are largely responsible for security or the lack of it in their States through their actions or inaction. For instance, Enugu State was virtually shut down on Mondays, including Government offices, in observance of the obnoxious sit at home order but through Governor Peter Mbah’s actions, the story has changed with even banks now opening that day.
Just like Prophet Elijah declared war against the prophets of Baal, Governor Soludo has declared war against the prophets of Okite and it is in the interest of Ndigbo that he succeeds. Okite is a money ritual that is trending among yahoo boys and other criminal elements in today’s Igbo society and it is allegedly prepared by diabolical dibias using human body parts. The nexus between the Prophets of Okite and insecurity in Ala-Igbo is that these diabolical dibias equally fortify or claim to fortify criminals with ‘Odeshi’. As such, they are a critical aspect of the insecurity ‘value chain’ in Ala-Igbo. Secondly, violent crimes being committed in Ala-Igbo with the attendant disregard for the sanctity of human life are mostly propelled by mammonism – excessive drive for the accumulation of wealth at all costs, the deification of the accumulation of wealth.
Today, “ibute ike” which means to grab mega money is the order of the day in Ala-Igbo, especially among the youths. Unfortunately, the fake life being displayed on social media and at social functions by celebrities has worsened things. Instead of emulating the success stories of Arthur Eze, Coscharis, Innoson, Juhel, Emzor, etc, these vulnerable youths have made these money spraying noveau celebrities their role models. In order to “grab mega money”, they engage in all manners of criminal acts such as internet fraud (yahoo/ yahoo plus), drug trafficking, kidnapping, human trafficking, sale of ovarian eggs by young girls and prostitution.
Perhaps, Voltaire, the 17th century French philosopher had these pitiable youths in mind when he said “Don’t think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything (anything) for money”. That is the sad situation in Ala-Igbo today; for many, everything is all about money, honour seems to have been relegated to the background. That is why NAFDAC has a herculean task battling fake and adulterated drugs and beverages in our markets.
This inordinate craze for the accumulation of wealth has also tainted all aspects of Igbo society, including the church, traditional institutions and business. Ndi butere ike are being celebrated, rather than condemned by our churches and traditional rulers, through knighthoods, conferment of all manners of titles/awards, chieftaincy titles, etc. Churches keep courting them for financial support even when it is common knowledge that their wealth is tainted. As prophets of God, our Christian leaders ought to have been the ones leading the crusade against the prophets of okite. As such, the least the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South East, Nigeria can do is to endorse and own this fight.
In business, the Igbo Apprenticeship system, the Igbo gift to the world of economics is crumbling due to excessive greed and lack of trust, ensuing from mammonism. It is either the apprentice wants to loot his masters’ fund or the master frames up his apprentice for fraud to avoid settling him. Even isusu, the world acclaimed Igbo thrift saving system is also challenged as many operators now run away with clients’ savings.
The Biafran struggle has also been affected with some fake agitators using Biafra as a cover for all manners of violent crimes. This sensitive issue has worsened insecurity as the Governors and other Igbo leaders are in a dilemma on how to tackle criminality under the banner of Pseudo-Biafranism without being labelled saboteurs. The Governors should liaise with Ohanaeze Ndigbo to identify and work with the genuine Biafran agitators so as to curb insecurity under the banner of Biafra.
That Soludo is leading this Anti-Mammonism crusade is very symbolic because Anambra is the seat of mammonism in Ala-Igbo. In fact, “Anambra seems to showcase the best and the worst vistas of the Igbo personae, all at once”. It is the most educated and urbanized state in Ala-Igbo. It also has the least poverty index in the region and the highest number of millionaires in Nigeria. At the same time, it is the home of odeshi and okite, with all the attendant adverse effects.
It is also noteworthy that Anambra has the highest number of youth traditionalists in Ala-Igbo. Last year, Governor Soludo lamented that Anambra youths were trooping to idolatry (ife arusi), not Traditional Religion (Odinani). In fact, they are mostly misguided followers of idolatry and diabolism, all in a bid to grab mega money. Its only few among them that genuinely care about African traditional religion as a way of life. Genuine adherents of odinani can never be involved in bloodshed and other criminal activities regarded as nso ala (taboo). A google search reveals the following, “African Traditional Religion does not involve idolatry (the worship of idols). Its adherents worship the Supreme Being (Chi-ukwu) alongside various spirits and ancestors, often represented through symbolic objects and rituals” Anambra has the highest number of celebrity dibias like Akwa Okuko tiwara aki, who have a very massive social media followership. Just like fake pastors, who preach only prosperity and miracles, at all costs, these fake dibias promote mbute ike through okite and diabolism. Therefore, the Anambra State Government’s crusade should be against fake religion, whether odinani or Christianity. This is in line with a recent statement by Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, an Igbo spiritual leader who while commending Soludo’s war against fake dibias, urged him to equally target fake pastors, as they also contribute to societal decadence and insecurity. Also, some fake pastors rely on diabolic means to deceive gullible members of the society with their fake miracles and promises of wealth, making our people lazy and redundant. There are still several Eddy Nawgu’s in Ala-Igbo today, who use diabolism cloaked as Christianity to deceive people, making them believe that “manner still falls from heaven”
The fight is not Soludo’s, it’s the fight for life and death of the Igbo personae. Without values, our Igboness is destroyed. Our Igboness; our intrinsic drive for passionate enterprise sets us apart globally. No nation becomes a world power based on criminality, if not Italy would have been a Super Power due to the Sicilian Mafias. Indeed, what is at stake is the restoration of our corporate values and a deliberate re-definition of our Igboness. Kidnapping, organ harvesting, shedding of innocent blood under any guise is alien to who we are. Soludo must be supported to arrest this cancerous erosion of our Igboness.
The trouble with Anambra and indeed Ala-Igbo is that of fake religion, both fake dibias and fake pastors. Therefore, the battle against fake religion and insecurity shall only be won if Governor Soludo and other Igbo governors facilitate a collaboration between the church leaders and the genuine leaders of odinani in their states in an ‘All of Society’ approach. The author has always advocated for odinani adherents to get organized. This attempt by Soludo to root out prophets of okite, with genuine dibias and adherents of odinani suffering collateral damage is a wakeup call for them to get organized, so as to distinguish the wheat from the chaff (mechanic ekweghizi ka amara ndi ara). The government can easily liaise with Christians on all issues including security through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) but is in a dilemma on how to identify genuine dibias and odinani adherents. Our odinani brethren should take a cue from the Yorubas who have an umbrella organization called International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) that helps to moderate, document and promote genuine religion.
Furthermore, there is need for a regional framework and collaboration among the South East Governors so as to implement the report of the 2023 South East Security & Economic Summit which contains a comprehensive and actionable plan to tackle insecurity. For security coordination, the South East ought to treated as a single unit since any criminal being pursued in one state that ends up in another, means that no work has been done.
Despite intial setbacks, the need for a Regional security outfit remains imperative and should be pursued expeditiously by the South East Governors Forum, led by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Finally, while urging other governors and indeed every patriotic Onye Igbo to key into the crusade against mammonism and the prophets of okite, we pray Okuke Abiama, Chi Ndigbo to guide and guard Soludo in this battle that must be won for Ala-Igbo to be cleansed and restored, tupu aru gbara afo aburu omenala.
Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, MNSE, COREN(Ọ́vụ̀ Mọ́ọ́ Wèrù Nenwe)
Convener, South East Good Governance Project (SEGGOP)
