By Okey Chris Awka
Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), South-east zone, has described the recent killings of worshippers at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Umezekwe, Ofufe Amawa, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA, Anambra state, as “a manifestation of the loss of Igbo cultural values and ethics due to the quest for materialism.” According to CLO, modern Igbo society sunk in imbibing the ethics of wrong, revenge and unforgiving, upholding the wrong or learned values and glorifying ill- gotten wealth against those of industriousness and truth the race was previously known for.
Th e group made its position known in a press release issued by its South-east Zonal Chairman, Comrade Aloysius Attah, and Zonal Treasurer, Comrade Pedro Azuogu, saying that the man earlier fi ngered in the imbroglio had been “the toast of musicians both highlife, gospel and secular.
’ “Th e Church hierarchy cuts across several denominations, starting from the Bishops to the clergy, have been falling head over heels in love with him because of his deep pocket and acclaimed philanthropy,” the release read in part. CLO also blamed the government and traditional institutions, insisting that “they now worship the god of mammon who takes glory in ill-gotten wealth and commands enormous respect with it.”
“From various communities across the South-east, this seems to be the fad while those who preach sanity, morality, integrity and other virtues are sometimes seen to be living in the ‘old school era.’ “A drug baron is allowed to build churches and parish rectory, when he comes late in church, protocol is breached and preaching interrupted to welcome him. Security Chiefs struggle to visit him and also spend odd hours waiting while such people also have unfettered access to the security chief’s offi ce.
Th ey move with retinue of aides and escorts. Th e list of the abnormalities and anomalies are endless.” “Th ey still passed the various check points even along the Onitsha-Owerri road before entering Ozubulu and have met policemen on the road.”
