Tony Okafor,Awka
The Anambra State government has demolished the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry in Onitsha owned by fiery prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, a.k.a Odumeje
This is in line with the Onitsha urban renewal plan enunciated by by the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo on assumption to office on March 17.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that ,”The popular Onitsha-based pastor, Chukwuemeka Odumeje, who is popularly known as Indaboski Bahose, and Liquid Metal was on Thursday manhandled by security agents in Onitsha.
“This is coming as his church, Grace And Power Prophetic Ministry in Onitsha was also demolished.”
New National Star had reported at the wake of Soludo’s administration that Odumeje’s church was marked for demolition by the Anambra State government as one of the buildings sitting on drainage channels
Sequel, Soludo had visited Okpoko, a slum in Onitsha, a day after his swearing in, and pledged to sanitize the area by ensuring the drainages were free to flow.
During Thursday’s demolition exercise, sources said Odumeje had attempted to interrupt the officials of the state government from demolishing his church, when he was manhandled by security men who accompanied the demolition team.
A video trending online showed the cleric being shoved around by security men, including police officers and men of the state vigilance services.
in the video that had gone viral, the prophet was seen severally slapped, and restricted from moving to the demolition area by armed security men.
The video however sparked mixed reaction, with many condemning the manhandling of the cleric, saying it was unfair to treat him so undignified.
” They shouldn’t have treated him that way. Their conduct could result in breach of public peace. Whether anybody likes it or not, the cleric has large following, especially amongst the youth. They should have respected him,” a source who pleaded anonymity said.
But for Chinyere Ugonabu: “The treatment served him right as he had himself severally invaded shrines that are considered sacred and known to be places of worship by others. Karma is real.”
Meanwhile, Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has confirmed that government forces were responsible for the demolition of the church of popular Pastorg Chukwuemeka Odumeje.
Soludo in a statement by his press secretary secretary, Christian Aburime said Odumeje failed to comply with government directive to remove illegal structure he built on waterway.
It read: “Following the expiration of the more than two weeks notice beginning from April 2022 served on developers and building owners who built several illegal structures along the waterway in Fegge and environs within Onitsha, Anambra state government has begun demolition of such structures.
“The exercise which is being carried out by a joint government task force, commenced the exercise from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge Onitsha.
“The affected buildings include Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, shops and other perimeter fences
“The structures were marked since April, 2022 and all developers and building owners were served notice to remove such illegal structures,” the release read.