Obichinyelu

I recently watched US born Nigerian actress, Uzoamaka Aduba’s interview, and she said something every Igbo person needs to hear.

When young Uzoamaka Aduba wanted to change her name from “Uzoamaka to Zoe” because people found it difficult to pronounce it in her American school, her mother gave her a lesson that would stay with her for life.

Her mother said: “If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, Michelangelo, and Dostoyevsky, they can learn to say Uzoamaka.”

This inspired her to carry that name proudly onto the world stage and became an Emmy winning actress amongst her numerous professional achievements.

There is a lesson here for us as Igbo people and Africans in general, our names, language, culture, and heritage are not burdens to hide. They are identities to embody & show off. The world will respect what we respect in ourselves.

Never abandon your roots to make others comfortable. Wear your heritage with confidence, preserve it with pride, and let your achievements give it even greater visibility.

A tree that forgets its roots cannot stand for long.

I expected to see Chaluoku among the pastors arraigned yesterday under the Anambra Homeland Security Law.

While I commend the Anambra State Government for not restricting its regulatory actions solely to Odinani practitioners, i noticed that the pastors arraigned were all from the Pentecostal denomination & also there's another troubling perception that certain individuals are either too connected, too influential, or somehow untouchable when it comes to prosecution.

The Anglican Church itself relieved Chaluoku of his pastoral duties indefinitely and publicly justified that decision on the grounds that he engaged in fraudulent activities that are not in Concord with genuine pastoral conduct. If such a serious action by his own church is considered credible enough to warrant suspension, then it should also attract the attention of the authorities responsible for sanitizing the religious space.

Justice and accountability must be applied consistently. A law that is enforced against some while others with similar allegations walk freely will inevitably raise questions about fairness and sincerity.

Until individuals like Chaluoku are subjected to the same scrutiny and legal process as those recently arraigned, i will continue to view these arrests as mere playing to the gallery rather than a genuine effort to rid Anambra of religious fraud and exploitation.

The fight against fake religious practices should not be selective. If the government is truly committed to cleaning up the system, then no one should be above investigation, regardless of status, influence, denomination, or connections.

SETTLE OLD DEBTS BEFORE SEEKING NEW SPIRITUAL HELP

Before you ask me to link you to any Dibia for consultation for different reasons, make sure you have settled any old debt with a Dibia you previously engaged.

I often tell people that aside from teaching, personal practice, and Igbo cultural advocacy, I do not perform spiritual rituals for others. The most I can do is refer someone to a genuine Dibia whose specialty aligns with their needs.

But, a recent experience prompted me to make this post.

About a year ago, a man approached me seeking help. I referred him to who handled his case. The results were evident. His life improved, and he made significant progress in life.

However, i was unaware of this changes as i didn’t care to keep in touch with him. But, Recently, the same man returned to me.

This time, he was not seeking to express gratitude. Rather, he wanted me to connect him with an even stronger Dibia for another spiritual work because he had run into fresh problems.

As our conversation progressed, I discovered that he never properly settled with the previous Dibia whose work had benefited him immensely. Upon this discovery, i told him to go back and make proper settlement as he vows still have him in shackles.

That is not how Igo Mmuo works in Omenani Igbo.

Many people approach spirituality as if it is a supermarket where they can keep demanding more while ignoring previous commitments. It does not work that way. You do not enjoy the benefits of someone’s labour and then abandon your responsibilities when it is time to reciprocate.

In Omenani, before knocking on a new door, close the one you left behind properly.

One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is to assume that progress came solely from their own efforts while forgetting the people, sacrifices, and agreements that contributed to that success.

If you have benefited from the work of a Dibia, a teacher, a craftsman, a friend, or anyone else, do the right thing and honour your obligations. Not because you are afraid of consequences, but because it is the proper way of a responsible human being.