News Analysis: Day Enugu Wrecked Havoc on God’s Holy Place of Worship

Posted by African Examiner Articles/Opinion, Enugu, Ignatius Okpara, News Thursday, September 19th, 2013

By Ignatius Okpara

Gov Sullivan Chime of Enugu state, South-East Nigeria

FOR the senior pastor in charge of City of Liberation and comfort international Ministries (AKA), seed of life Holy Ghost city Enugu, Prophet (Dr) Ginika Obi, and the entire fateful of the Pentecostal church located at Amaechi Akawnaunaw axis, along the Enugu Port Harcourt express way, Monday 16^th, September 2013, is a day they will not forget in a hurry, as it would continue to remain green in their memories .

The church, built on a hilly topography within Enugu south local government area of the state currently have over 6000 {six thousand} membership across Enugu state. And for many Christian believers in the coal city state of Enugu, it is a place where miracle, signs and wonders reign supreme hence, it receives new members nearly every Sunday.

It came began in Enugu sometime in, July 2013, and has since then be winning scores of souls for Jesus Christ, as well as give hope to the hopeless in the society as part of its mission and vision here on planet earth.

However, the church, which use to be a beehive of religious activities virtually on daily basis was thrown into pandemonium and confusion last Monday, a day the Enugu state commissioner for lands Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam, ordered some aggressive and overzealous field workers from Enugu south local government area Town planning Authority alongside alleged miscreants to pull down the God’s holy place of worship, even without any pre notice, according to the pastor in charge.

Regrettably, the demolition exercise which commenced at about 10:30 am, under the supervision of one Pamela Ikwueze ,is coming barely few months the state government came out of a spiritual warfare it deliberately entered into with another Pentecostal church in the state capital Enugu, called “Mountain of Fire and Miracle church, which dragged the Governor Sullivan Chime led administration to court over revocation of its land and proposed plan to demolish the church.

Though, after a lingering legal battle, both parties decided to resolved the matter through out of court settlement after the government agreed to re allocate a total of twenty plots of virgin lands to the church in another location for the erection of a new structure.

Suffice it to say that last Monday’s demolition of the prophet Obi’s led place of worship with impunity by same government agents without pre notice, has no doubt portrayed the administration as an Anti Christ government, just as Dr. Ujam, has declared a war with his creator, the God Almighty, said pastor of the church.

Addressing newsmen shortly after conducting them round the demolished structure, prophet Obi, regretted that a right thinking fellow with conscience could embark on such heartless action in a house of God, adding that “the most annoying thing is that there was no pre notice to us by the government.

According to the clergyman, “this land where the church is built had never been under contention or dispute, we got it under lease from the rightful owner, Mr. Christopher Egbo who bought it from the community and besides, before we leased the land, I saw the survey plan and all other necessary documents certifying it as a genuine land”.

While describing the government action as a sacrilege and sin against God and humanity, the man of God, noted that from time immemorial, no body or group had embarked on such unholy act without paying dearly for it directly or indirectly.

The senior pastor, also wondered why the commissioner could give such wicked and inhuman order when he {Ujam} had already given him an appointment for Friday, 20^th, September, 2013 in his office. “When I got the information that our church was being demolished, I called the commissioner to let him know, and he confirmed to me that he was the one that gave the order for demolition.

Prophet Obi, who look unperturbed said despite the fact that the church lost property valued several millions of naira in the wicked act, he would not be deterred in doing God’s work, stressing that God whom he serve knows how best to handle issue of vengeance for his people.

“I want to tell you that what has happened cannot deter me from serving my God or shepherding the flocks he has enthroned in my care, rather, this ugly incident would spur me to do more for God who is the giver of all things on earth including this church.”

Meanwhile, some residents of Enugu who reacted to the demolition of the church under condition of anonymity, had condemned it in all its entirety, liking the action to that of members of the Islamic sect, the BokoHaram , who always lunch attack on churches and mosque.

According to one of the respondents “it is quite unfortunate that the Governor Sullivan Chime led government which started very well during its first tenure in office, has today developed penchant for fighting God through the demolition of his churches and places of worship.

‘Last year it was between them and Mountain of Fire church, and this year it is now them and city of liberation and comfort international ministries.

“It is too bad for any political leader to be using government apparatus in fighting the church of God, because everything in this world is vanity upon vanity, and everybody including President or Governor, will one day give account of his stewardship here on earth before God his creator and owner of the demolished church.

Efforts to get commissioner Ujam’s side of the story was unfruitful as he did not respond to several calls put across to his mobile phone by the author of this piece.

However, as the administration continues with its ongoing demolition exercise across the metropolis with a view to restoring the original master plan of Enugu city, there is need for both the state ministry of lands and Enugu capital territory Development Authority to apply human face in carrying out the exercise, especially as it concerns church buildings, so as not to incur the full wrath of God.