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Soludo, Priest Trade Words Over Prophecies

Published

3 years ago

June 7, 2022

The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has reacted to a prophecy by the Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma, that Fulani terrorists would attack him (Soludo).

Obimma, popularly known as Ebube Muonso, had in his prophecy, said he saw herdsmen with tribal marks invading Anambra Government House while the governor was running out in a pool of blood.

The priest, who was addressing his congregation in a viral video, said there was the need to pray for the state and Soludo, as he also said the governor should pray for himself.

The cleric also said the governor, who was sworn in on March 17, generally, was performing below expectations; especially in security and waste management.

Ebube Muonso, had criticised Soludo over the poor management of waste in the state, adding that the governor was yet to show Ndi Anambra that they did not make a mistake voting for him at the last governorship poll.

The cleric also reminded the governor of his promise to make Anambra look like Dubai and America; and that he must not fail the people of the state.

He also noted a number of issues that needed attention, including gunmen and insecurity issues as well as other prophetic declarations.

But Soludo in his response, said although the priest had the monopoly power of the pulpit, such a monopoly demanded a responsibility on the part of the cleric to exercise caution and maturity on how he uses such power.

Soludo in a six-point write up which went viral online, said, “I don’t believe these political or phantom ‘prophecies’ are designed to play to the gallery.

“That’s not my upbringing and faith as a Catholic. You have my contact and assuming that anything was ‘revealed’ to you as a threat to my life, do you really believe that the best way to communicate it is on your pulpit?

“As an orthodox Catholic, I was brought up not to join issues with any man of God. I have been in the public arena for two decades and I appreciate comments and criticisms from the citizens, including the men of God.

“I welcome your comments, advice and even criticisms as such help us to do better because we are certainly not perfect.

“I am writing to you, in the exercise of my duty (as a member of your Laity),to also advise you – but not publicly on the pulpit as you chose to do.

“In your prophecy, you are certainly entitled to claim that you ‘saw’ anything, and to call for prayers. I need all the prayers in the world and I believe that thousands of people of goodwill are praying for us and for Anambra.”

The governor said the man of God, through his adverse comments, failed to acknowledge the huge efforts being made to confront the challenges in the state by his government.

According to him, when no governorship candidate could campaign freely in the entire Anambra South Senatorial District before last year’s election because the zone was totally taken over by unknown gunmen, no one heard Ebube Muonso’s voice.

The governor added, “I was almost a victim. No one heard your voice. In my inaugural address I devoted paragraphs to address the issue. And Ndi Anambra from all over the world are calling in solidarity and offering support.

“I wish God will also ‘reveal’ to you the identity of the criminals so that we take them out. I know that you are a man of God and I deeply respect all of God’s anointed, but making incendiary and wild claims about security under the cover of the pulpit should be moderated.

“Father, I expect you to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. We admire you and the thousands of your followers deserve leadership and direction.”

PUNCH.

News

CSOs, Academia, Impacted Communities Launch Climate Justice Campaign In Edo

Published

1 hour ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

In a bid to advancing environmental justice and protecting biodiversity, a Climate Justice Assembly — comprising members of the civil society community, academia, representatives of oil extraction impacted communities, media, etc on Friday launched a campaign tagged #Yasunize and #Ogonize in Benin

The Assembly, convened by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), was themed: Climate Justice Assembly: Yasunize & Ogonize the World for Socio-Ecological Wellbeing.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, said the campaign was “inspired by the struggles of the Ogoni people in Nigeria, who have faced decades of environmental devastation and halted oil extraction in their territory in 1993, and the struggle of the people of Ecuador to stop oil extraction at Yasuní-ITT, one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. The people of Ecuador voted massively against crude oil extraction at Yasuni ITT in a national referendum in August 2023.”

Bassey added that the “campaign aims to advance environmental justice, protect biodiversity, and build resilience in the face of a changing climate. It is powered by people on the ground – activists, community groups, and allies around the globe – who are demanding that corporations and governments clean up their mess and help communities heal.”

L-R: Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana; Dr. Ofuani Sokolo, Faculty of Law, University of Benin; A Professor of French Language, University of Benin during the launching on Friday.

The ED explained further that “#Ogonize is more than a campaign; it is a fight for what is right. We want to ensure that communities impacted by environmental disasters are heard, that their land is restored, and that future generations inherit a healthy planet.

“#Yasunize is about rethinking our relationship with nature. It is recognising that some places are too valuable to exploit and that we need to prioritise the health of our planet over short-term profits.”

“Together, #Ogonize and #Yasunize paint a picture of a world where environmental justice and sustainability are not just ideals, but realities.

“They challenge the status quo and insist that protecting the environment and ensuring social fairness go hand-in-hand. These campaigns remind us that real change comes from community-led solutions and global cooperation.”

He urged authorities concerned to ensure those “responsible for environmental damage pay reparations and face legal consequences, while shielding biodiversity hotspots and indigenous territories from harmful activities.”

Bassey also called on the
“governments, organisations, and individuals are invited to join the movement, stand with affected communities, and advocate for policies that prioritise justice and halt ecocide.”

On his part, Executive Director, Miideko Environmental Development Foundation Initiative, Celestine Akpobari, who is an Ogoni man, urged people to expose those carrying out environmental degradation, adding: “If you see anyone destroying our environment and keep silence, you are an accomplished.”

In his goodwill message, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, urged people not to burn the planet, just as he warned: “We are all threatened; everyone of us is at risk.”

Dr. Ofuani Sokolo, from the Faculty of Law, University of Benin, also spoke on Gender Climate Change and Community Mobilisation, while other academia and CSO members gave goodwill messages.

News

Ovia South West Council Chairman, Edobor Bags National Merit Award

Published

17 hours ago

October 24, 2025

Editor

The Acting Chairman of Ovia South West Local Government Council in Edo State, Hon. Charles Nosakhare Edobor, has bagged the 2025 Nigerian Local Government Merit Award (LOGMA).

He was awarded as the Best Performing Local Government Chairman in Nigeria (Security and infrastructure development, purposeful leadership).

Speaking after being conferred with the prestigious award, Edobor applauded the organizers for recognizing his administration’s commitment to localizing good governance.

He highlighted his leadership’s remarkable strides in building a sustainable, livable, and prosperous council area through numerous people-oriented programmes and projects-particularly in road infrastructure and the provision of basic social amenities.

Edobor dedicated the award to the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and to the good people of Ovia south west Local Government Area.

He expressed satisfaction with the honour. He emphasized that the award would further spur him to work harder in pursuing people-centred programmes aligned with Senator Monday Okpebholo’s S.H.I.N.E and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Edobor commended Governor Okpebholo for his visionary leadership and unwavering support for local government administrations across the state.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening rural development, empowering youth and women, and ensuring the dividends of democracy reach every ward in Ovia south west local government.

Earlier, in his welcome address at the event which held on Wednesday at the National Merit House, Abuja, the National Coordinator of LOGMA, Chief Bayode Ojo, stated that the award was designed to showcase the achievements of local government chairmen and reward excellence in grassroots governance – particularly those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting grassroots development despite the challenges confronting the third tier of government.

He congratulated all the awardees for making the final list after rigorous scrutiny and spot-checking of some of their executed projects to verify the authenticity of their claims.

Chief Ojo further urged the awardees to continue to be shining examples of sustainable growth at the grassroots and in the country at large.

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Sacks CDS Musa, Names New Army Boss

Published

17 hours ago

October 24, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.

The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff.

More to follow…