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People, Witches, Priests and Governance in Eastern Nigeria

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Akwa Ibom has no money to conduct LG polls –GovUdom

By Joseph Rotimi…. It is a sad tale of irresponsibility that in this century and after the work of Mary Slessor more than a century ago, children in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states of Nigeria are being systematically destroyed in the name of witchcraft. It is a degenerate and conscious form of paedocide that is encouraged by a psychotic “clergy”, mentally depressed parents and nonchalant state governments.

 

A society that is unable or unwilling to protect and nurture its minors is doomed. What is going on in the two states of Nigeria (which is more or less a banana republic) borders on insanity.  We pride ourselves for having some of the most popular churches on the planet; with jet-age “men and women of God” traversing world capitals with Christ-laced platitudes, but become beasts when it comes to compassion for our kind at home.

 

Jesus never advocated torture in dealing with any “sinner” or “demon possessed” person according to the bible; instead, he sought them out and healed them.  But there is a particular woman located in the Akwa Ibom/Cross River axis whose “ministry” is devoted to encouraging the demonization of children, torturing them and keeping them under inhuman conditions until they perish. Apart from this strange woman, other “prophets” appear to have taken this “witching doctrine” to ridiculous levels. This is going on in a country that prides itself for having institutions of higher learning, world-class learned men and women and an assumed religious consciousness bordering on theocracy. These Christ-laced hypocrites are not ashamed to go along with traditional anachronisms by the local populace who believe strongly in the ancient practice of witch hunting.

 

The unfortunate assumption is that these children are the “spiritual cause” of the problems the parents might be going through. This is a ridiculous notion at best. It does not matter what problems the parents are facing; whether economic, mental or general unhappiness, the theory is that the most vulnerable members of society are to blame!

 

While kids undergo Auschwitz-like treatment, those in position of power pay token attention to the crimes. They sit in air-conditioned insular chambers, whether in offices, cars, gated mansions or private jets, forgetting that the very base of society is gradually slipping away with the plaintive wail of tortured souls of children. These aloof leaders sometimes hurriedly put together laws that appear on the surface to show their concern for the evil going on, but deep down, they are not bothered. It is easier to dwell on the birthday party in France at the end of the month than think of some poor child being tortured to death.

 

More than a century ago, a Scottish woman; Mary Slessor, came to southeastern (Calabar) Nigeria and managed to convince the people to stop the killing of twins. It appears we need another Mary to come and rescue the “witch children” since indigenous Marys appear scarce.

 

Why do we always look outside for help when we can easily solve our problems with some effort on our part? Why do we have to involve the United Nations or some foreign NGO from Sweden, Denmark or Germany, to come and teach us that our children are irreplaceable treasures? There is a serious problem when authority figures in the community such as the clergy and parents conspire to destroy young lives while the machinery of justice hardly takes notice. The two governors of the two aforementioned states should indict themselves because this wanton destruction of children is happening under their watch. The denial of rights, justice and humanity at the highest echelons of governance in Nigeria is a common disease and these traits flow down to the family level until they empty on the most vulnerable – children.

 

If political office holders fight for the rights of the people to common decency the way they fight and kill for elections, maybe things would be better. But the majority of them are self-seeking, who usually seek to destroy the few statesmen in their midst.

 

Most of the “witch kids” end up in the streets trying to survive while little ones, if lucky, are rescued by NGOs. The government should investigate the origin of these children and inquire as to why they have been neglected. If the parents admit witchcraft as reason for abandoning their ward then they should be indicted on the spot and hauled away to face justice. There should be a national and statewide awareness of the problem as a serious emergency. The so-called “ministries” that are contributing to these miseries should be sanctioned immediately and if investigations lead to any of them as having contributed to particular cases, the money for the rehabilitation of the child should be billed to them.

 

Public or private exorcisms related to witchcraft and condemnation of children should be banned. The real witches causing health, economic, natural, and unnatural problems in Nigeria are in government houses and other positions of power. They are comfortable with what is happening because as real culprits destroying the society, they can hide behind high walls and state security while vulnerable and defenceless children become scapegoats.

 

Governors Udom Emmanuel and Benedict Ayede; please, solve the problem of “witch children” before you leave office, in order to truly be blessed. I am not talking of the blessings promised by your canting clerics, who want a bit of the pie you are currently eating but a true blessedness from the hearts of these dear young souls whose only offence was to be born in the wrong country.

 

Ripples Nigeria…without borders, without fears

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