Anambra traditionalists warn Soludo against plan to demolish Udo’s shrine
An Anambra-born traditional practitioner, Oliver Nwokedi and the Chief priest, Udo Olulu Eke Ekwulobia, who simply identified himself as Okenye, have warned the State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo against his threat to demolish spiritual and mundane property include Udo deity Shrine to pave way for the ongoing construction of a flyover in the sub-urban centre of Ekwulobia, the headquarter of Aguata Local Council.
It was learnt that the traditional worshippers of the Chukwunedu Anene held Udo deity in Amikwo-Awka in Awka South Local Council disregarded the cult-related killings of three persons at Ukwu-Udala and Ukwuoji axis of the community to hold the celebration of Nkwa Festival in honour of Udo deity, the god of peaceful sojourn and return to community.
However, it was said that the security threat propmted the prevalence of the tradion of Awka annual moon counting ritual performer, Akadiana-Awka,, Chief Patrick Nweke on the traditional ruler of Omor, Ayamelum Local Council of the State to eschew the event.
Reports revealed that despite the security threat that preceded last Friday’s Udo Festival, Ogbugbankwan, the whole community converged to witness Udo Priest, Chief Chukwunedu Anene perform ritual and prayer for peace and bountiful farm yields.
Anene, who was chosen by the Udo deity as its ritual servant since 2002 and an Okperi-Awka Community leader, Chief Johnson Okafor described Udo as the oldest deity, which is celebrated in form of Udo Nkwa, Ukwu n’ije, in June, after the most popular Imoka Festival in the month of May.
Meanwhile, trouble reportedly started when Soludo, whose ancestor is believed to have worshipped the Udo deity as Chief Priest of the deity of protection of the sojourners in his Isuofia community, Aguata Local Council of the state, embarked on the demolition of public, private, and civil society entities in Ekwolobia and Oko and in Orumva North Local Councils of the state, amid protests.
Governor Soludo, due to commitment to development, is about to destroy Udo Olulu Eke Ekwulobia, the shrine of Udo Ekwulobia, a similar deity worshipped by his ancestors in Isuofia without proper consideration and option.
In his reaction to the demolition of the Udo deity Shrine at Ekwulobia, an Anambra-born traditional practitioner, Oliver Nwokedi warned against incurring the wrath of the gods in the seeming demolition exercise.
Nwokedi, a self-professed spiritual revolutionare, and humble truth-bearer from Enugwu Nanka, Orumba North Local Council, admonished that personalities should have alternative means of settling issues or provoking the traditional priests rather than involving outsiders or neutral communities.
Also the Chief priest, Udo Olulu Eke Ekwulobia, who simply identified himself as Okenye, the Ancient One, said, “Tell Soludo that Okenye is talking and should not throw stone while he literally lives in a glass house.”
Okenye stressed that, “If Soludo thinks government owns the site of the Udo Olulu Eke in Ekwulobia, let him dare to destroy or remove it without due process.”
He pointed out that the forceful demolition occasioned by the plan to build a flyover is a good plan, but noted that the Governor needs to be informed about the repercussion in-wait, stating that the message was what he was asked to go and deliver.
