The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a motion prohibiting all forms of spiritual crusade aimed at community cleansing and identifying witches and wizards by self-acclaimed prophets of God.
This ban had occurred during the plenary at the Assembly’s complex on Thursday, July 11.
What They’re Saying
According to a statement issued by the Assembly’s Public Relations Officer, Sylvester Egede, the decision was made due to its urgent public importance and was preceded by an earlier report on the interference with community peace and disruption of public activities due to the Christian crusade organised by Prophet Ubadimma in Izzi Council Area.
The motion, which was sponsored by the member representing Izzi West state constituency, Godwin Abiri, had said that it took the fortuitous intervention of the Ada Izzi Council chairman, Stephen Nwankpa, to prevent an ugly incident.
The lawmaker explained that such activities could destroy the prevailing existing peace in the state under Governor Francis Nwifuru and prayed for immediate clampdown of such church programs conducted without due clearance from the leadership of any community and security outfits to avoid a future occurrence or the resort to jungle justice by youths.
The Leader of the House and member representing Afikpo North West, Kingsley Ikoro, together with the member representing Ebonyi North East, Mrs Chinyere Nwogbaga, and Chikezie Nwankwo, who represents Ohaozara East, had all condemned the act.
Finally, the Speaker of the House, Moses, Oje-Odunwa, put forward the motion to the vote and the named members mentioned unanimously approved it.
