Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Reverend Godfrey Onah
Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Reverend Godfrey Onah, has attributed the surge in money rituals, known as “Okeite,” among Igbo youths to the failure of religious leaders and poor governance.
Speaking at the 2025 South-East Colloquium in Enugu, organized by the Enugu Archdiocese of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Onah criticized the interplay of bad governance and manipulative religious practices.
The event, themed “ _The Rise of Neo-Religious Practices, Self-Acclaimed Prophets, Ndi Eze-Nwoke and Ndi-Eze-Nwanyi; their effects on Ndi Igbo, their Faith and Traditional Ethos,”_ was held on Friday to mark the Archdiocese’s 50th anniversary.
Onah explained that poverty, fueled by bad governance, and prosperity gospel preached by manipulative religious leaders drive youths to neo-religious practices.
“Bad governance creates the misery upon which manipulative religion thrives, and manipulative religion provides false assurances to the miserable people,” he said, adding that such leaders have shifted religion from worship to “casting and binding evil spirits” until followers, disillusioned, turn to self-invented idols.
The bishop emphasized that these new practices are not rooted in traditional Igbo or African religion, stating, “These exploited and frustrated people go back and invent their own idols.”
He urged religious leaders to responsibly share their knowledge of God and governments to manage resources fairly to curb deception bred by poverty.
Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Oliver Aba, echoed Onah’s concerns, urging religious leaders to reject wealth from questionable sources.
“We must have courage to say no to evil but bring sanity to churches because if we fail, tomorrow is in trouble,” Aba said.
Policy expert Prof. Sam Amadi described “Okeite” as a symptom of disrupted Igbo social structures, noting, “The new neo-paganism is universal but more peculiar with us here because the church has lost its central role in human education and socialisation.”
He called for nurturing Igbo culture to stigmatize ill-gotten wealth.
Governor Peter Mbah, represented by Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, highlighted his administration’s commitment to meritocracy and accountability.
“Anybody involved in things that undermine the values of our state and our government, and also fall within the ambience of breaking the law, will be held accountable,” Mbah affirmed, referencing ongoing legal action against a youth involved in money rituals.
Host and Methodist Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, Most Reverend Christopher Edeh, noted that these neo-religious practices threaten Igbo customs and Christian principles, contributing to insecurity, kidnappings, and ritual murders.
He stressed the colloquium’s aim to address these challenges and preserve the region’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
