PG ADVOCATES TRANSPARENCY IN TRADITIONAL WORSHIP TO AVERT MISUNDERSTANDINGS

By David Okpala/Stella Okpala :

The President General (PG), Akpo Development Association(ADA), Nze Henry C. Dim has called on African Traditional Religion practitioners to prioritize transparency as to distinguish themselves from evildoers.

He said this while interacting with information officers, at his residence, Ogbo Village, Akpo, in Aguata LGA, on February 26.

The PG said, “wisdom behind lunch of Agunechemba and Udo Ga-Achi mantra has nothing to do with religion.

“It aims at achieving peaceful Anambra State that shall be accommodating to investors for viable economic system.

“So, neither government of Anambra State nor I, the PG is interested in undermining African Traditional Religion but interested in sanitizing and retrieving Anambra State from criminals cum scammers.

“African Traditional Religion was here before Christianity came. The practice has been going on in pari passu with Christianity. Our great grand fathers were deeply in it. 

“Some of us who are Christians today practiced it, alongside our grandfathers before being converted to Christianity. So, we know how it was being practiced. 

“Religion is about relationship with supreme power. The supreme power is God Almighty, who is father of all of us.

“There is no way you can be cheating, shedding innocent blood, stealing in the name of yahoo yahoo, yet claim that you are worshiping God.”

According to him, God is never happy with you, hence he fathers those you took to committing suicide having dried up all what they worked for in many years, in the name of yahoo yahoo.

The PG enjoined those practicing African Traditional 

Religion to apply transparency to work in harmony with other religions within.

“Do not surround your shrine with prison wall as this has tendency of bringing suspicions in the hearts of men.

“It is not meaningful to litter your shrine with animal blood as it is dirty, bearing in mind that cleanliness is next to godliness.

“Give to Caesar what is due to him and God what is due, does not suggest worshipping God and mammon but suggest respect to constituted  authorities.

“If you are bringing other gods for worship to this community, Akpo, I as PG and Igwe must know, to giving you approval, if not, take it to your house for worship.

“The recognized gods and deities of our forefathers are the ones to be worshipped freely and transparently at will.”

PG enjoined Akpo youths not to fall victim to scammers who claim to give power to making riches, explaining that it is the greatest fallacy of this millennium.

“Riches are traced to humble beginning, hard work, honesty, integrity and total dependence on God the Most High.”

*David and Stella are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*