The supposed ‘money ritual’ has never been part of the African Traditional Religion (ATR) known to my part of Nigeria. It only existed in legends. There is no Chi in Igbo cosmology known to accept rituals and give money out of the blues. Omenani supports interventions by Chi in fruitful blessings through aka-ọlụ, ịgba-mbọ, ichu-uchu and ike-ọlụ (the virtues of handwork, enterprise, adept skills and hard-work). It was never by money-churning ritual or magic.
It is the same as in the Christian theology where God is presented as having the ability to give one the power to make wealth but never through any magical prayers, rituals or mediums. God is believed to bless the work of one’s hand even as the person is encouraged to give and receive. Neither the ATR nor Christianity (properly-so-called) teaches that massive wealth can come by performance of rituals. My generation was scammed.
The quest for ego-mbute, ego-nghani-enu and ibute-ike (a.k.a. money na water) has taken murderous dimensions and turned our cities and villages to desolate lands. As Agụnaechemba and its security forces collaborators dig in deeper, the bushes are giving up their skeletal cadavers and the toll on human life is high, gory and blood-curdling. The envied State has become the laughing stock of the world. Tụfịakwa! Ndị Anambra sị kwọnụ ọbụlụ ọgwụ olee!
Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s government is on the right track. The enforcement should be thorough, firm and fair in terms of investigations, arrests and prosecutions of suspects irrespective of the religion they purport to manifest under section 38 of the Constitution (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion). The right to religious adherence is not an absolute right under the Constitution.
No religious practice under any symbol or flag should be allowed to support, promote or encourage the scourge of insecurity ravaging our society today under any guise. No responsible government would detract from combating evil, promoting public order, public safety and public morality by succumbing to the supposed need to respect religious practices that have shown to promote insecurity, and in my opinion even a scam.
Chijioke O. P. Emeka, SAN
Vincent II Law Place
Lekki Scheme 1, Lekki
9th February, 2025