Tuomo Community declares war against ancestral worship

By: Embale Jonathan
From: Tuomo

The Tuomo federated community in Burutu local government area of Delta State has abandoned all forms of ancestral worship in the community to accept Jesus Christ.

This renunciation was made when leaders of the community, the Amanana-owei in Council, Chief Akpola Ekperi and the community chairman, Mr. Clement Ereide in collaboration with the Tuomo Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, organized a two day crusade tagged “Niger Delta in God’s Agenda”.

The crusade, which featured community deliverance, salvation and manifestation of God’s glory, was among programmes targeted to break away from the covenants of Juju worship. The crusade, which was attended by the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and a combined team of intercessors from Abuja, according to the Amanana-owei, is to reclaim Tuomo land for Christ.

Chief Ekperi stated that time has come when the people of Tuomo severe ties with all forms of idol worshipping. “We saw the glory of God in the Community, therefore, we have to embrace God for that glory to continue to shine in Tuomo”, he opined.

The Amanana-owei further revealed that it has become necessary for people of Tuomo to refuse being committed to smaller gods by any individual or group. The monarch noted, “we need peace, progress and development in Tuomo. We believe the devil and his agents cannot bring about peace and progress but the Almighty God”.

The traditional leader however quipped that everyone has the right to freedom of worship and association. He declared that the community would no longer be led into taking part in performing rituals and festivals associated with ancestral worship.

The Amanana-owei while recounting history said before 1951 when oil exploration activities were to be carried out on Opu-Ogbo, a land suspected to have a large deposit of oil under the control of Juju worshipers was declared a sacred land of the gods. According to him, the community forbade anyone including indigenes from going there. A situation, which according to the monarch plunged the community into backwardness and deprived the discovery of oil in Tuomo in the 50s.

Chief Ekperi also used the occasion to congratulate the new CAN National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for his landslide victory. He remarked that good things are happening in the Niger Delta under the will of God for someone from the Niger Delta, particularly Delta State to occupy the most exalted office in the Christendom.

He also thanked the ministers of God from Abuja led by Rev. Dr. Sylvanus Kenerekedi as well as the Tuomo Chapter Chairman of CAN, Evang. Olufemi Agidee.