A traditional worshipper and Director of Lomat Global Resources Ltd, Izuorah Nnamdi has asked Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to reverse his recent statement that Anambra is a “Christian state”.
Nnamdi said it’s historically, culturally and constitutionally incorrect.
The Governor made the statement during the unveiling of the state security outfit, “Operation Udo-ga-chi” where he said Anambra is a Christian state and rejected idolatry and traditional practices.
Nnamdi in an open letter to the Governor said such a statement misrepresents the state’s heritage and undermines its cultural diversity.
Nnamdi pointed out that Christianity came to Eastern Nigeria including Anambra in 1857 during the colonial era – a relatively recent development compared to the ancestral belief system “Odinani” which predates it.
He said Anambra like other parts of Igboland originally belongs to its indigenous people whose customs, spirituality and governance were deeply rooted in their ancestral heritage.
He also noted that Nigeria’s Constitution under Section 38 guarantees the freedom of religion, thought and conscience and rejects the establishment of any state religion.
He asked the governor to be neutral and inclusive and show equal respect to all religious and spiritual practices including Christianity, Islam and Odinani.
He expressed his concern and said the governor’s blanket condemnation of traditional spirituality practitioners often referred to as idol worshippers and the implication that they are linked to crime is harmful and dismissive of the cultural identity of a large chunk of the population.
While commending Governor Soludo on governance and infrastructure development, Nnamdi asked the administration to be fair on cultural issues.
He said criminal elements should be addressed across all belief systems and not just one.
He also asked for equal scrutiny of spiritual claims, saying pastors and prophets who claim to have miracles should be held to the same standards as traditional practitioners.
Nnamdi also asked for the outright ban on traditional practices like sacrifices at road junctions and water bodies which are part of Igbo cosmology. He said these practices are spiritual and communal and should not be dismissed without alternatives.
He believed engaging traditional custodians in dialogue would create a more harmonious approach that respects cultural practices and maintains public order.
In his conclusion, Nnamdi reminded the governor of his duty to lead with fairness, respect for diversity and adherence to constitutional principles.
He asked him to be cultural inclusive and not religious biased and to act as a father to all Ndi Anambra regardless of their beliefs.