In a recent  interface with the Anglican Clergy at All Saints Anglican Church, Onitsha, Governor Chukwuma  Soludo pointed out   “existential threats” posed to Christianity by the recent upsurge in idolatory and its manifold fetish practices, among present day youths.

Governor Soludo while making it clear that most of the recent security issues in the South East could be traced to these idolatrous practices and the concomitant get-rich- quick syndrome, among today’s youth, charged the Church to use the pulpit to propagate the accurate gospel and the core values of Christianity such as integrity, love, hardwork and contentment, among others.

 The present upsurge in idolatory and its concomitant multifarious fetish practices among  youths not only pose existential threats to Christianity but also to our core values as Ndigbo.

It is important for the youths to accept the reality that the trending “yahoo yahoo”, “okite”, “kidnapping for ransom”, “isa uchu”, “selling of human parts”, “dibias”, “ezenwanyis” and other  fetish and warped businesses and ideologies are devilish approach to life that are not sustainable

It is sad and unfortunate that some children, obviously imitating the youths, have presently adopted some dangerous slogans on the social media such as, “Who school help?” “Education is a scam, and so on.” Many parents no longer teach the young ones the pride of   work hard and need  to uphold  core social and moral values of Ndigbo.

Today, our so-much cherished “Igba Boi” system which has been studied, applauded and recommended by Havard University is gradually dying off as our young ones no longer show interest in painstakingly learning trades. They prefer to go for “ego mbute” as they are indoctrinated to believe is the best and faster lane  to actualize aspirations.

Idolatry is at the heart of all these manifold fetish practices and they have hydra-headed security implications on peaceful and tranquil society. The warped proponents of these fetish ideologies call it “Back to Root Crusade” and one wonders if it has ever been in our roots as Ndigbo to kill and dismember people to sell their body parts for quick wealth.  “Yahoo yahoo”,  “okite”, “isa uchu” and all other  rituals are not even environmentally friendly as  they often  pollute  water bodies , mess up road junctions and  give negative indoctrinations to up coming generation..

Parents and the Church should take their responsibilities of children upbringing and nurturing seriously by   inculcating  in them  right values  to protect the future of the society .. As the Scripture says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

May God Almighty heal our land.

BARNABAS OBIELUSI