Anambra: Outrage After Soludo’s Men Attack Pastor ‘Odumeje’

By Akinwale Kasali

Nollywood star Kate Henshaw has criticised the assault on the pastor of the  Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, Prophet Chukwuma Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje by Anambra state officials.

The televangelist was attacked by operatives of the state Environmental Task Force during the demolition of part of his church in Onitsha, the state’s capital.

Not a few Nigerians have criticised the Prof. Charles Soludo-led government over the behavior of the officials, who slapped and pushed the man of God during an altercation with him.

For instance, some are asking why the pastor had to be assaulted, even when the officials could have carried out their job with courtesy and civility.

Henshaw said on her Twitter Handle that: “Why must there always be an assault on the person. Is there no decorum? When they are not animals?”

Many residents of the state are not taking the issue lightly as they have descended heavily on the government, calling on Governor Soludo to call his men to order.

They insist that government has a duty to enforce the town planning laws of the state, but such must be done without violating the rights of the citizens.

Meanwhile, Governor Soludo, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, said the cleric failed to comply with government’s directive to remove illegal structure he built on the waterway.

It said the Church had been notified of the demolition since March this year.

The statement reads: “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 Church building located along Bida by Creek Road Fegge Onitsha, has been marked for demolition by successive government in the state, because of its location near Sakamori drainage, a stone throw to Onitsha Main Market.