…As Bishop Gberegbara Calls For Repentance
A major stakeholder in ogoni land, Sir Simeon Menegbo, has predicted that several Ogoni youths would die in their prime before attaining the age of 50 years due to their involvement in cultism and other criminal activities.
This was as the Bishop of Ogoni Diocese, Rt. Revered Solomon Gberegbara, also called on the people of Ogoni to repent and give their lives to Christ so that they will make heaven at last.
Sir Menegbo made the prediction on the sidelines of the just concluded third session of the fifth synod held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Nonwa Tai Archdeaconry, warning the youths to retrace their steps and do away with crime if they actually want to live long.
According to him, “The problem in Ogoni is a very sad one, as I am going now, I cannot go to my village because I am afraid. The way and manner our youths are behaving, it cannot take us to anywhere. If care is not taken most of our youths are going to die before they get to the age of 50.
“This is because they belong to cults, deygbam, deywell and they are planning to kill each other. So at any point, minute as long as they are members of cult their lives are hanging in the balance. Somebody is planning to kill you, because you are planning to kill somebody.
“So, it means that we are heading towards that time in our life when an average Ogoni youth maybe in another 10-15 years from now, will not live up to 50 years, you can see that some of them are already dying in their prime”.
Menegbo said the only way out for them and all their supporters is to completely embrace peace and denounce cultism. He also blamed the politicians for encouraging them to carry out the dastardly acts saying “the politicians cannot claim they are not aware of what is going on because they sponsor this boys to snatch ballot boxes, kill and maim during elections”.
Meanwhile, speaking on the Synod, Reverend Solomon Gberegbara, described synod as the highest meeting in the Anglican Communion which is used to discuss issues affecting the diocese. He said the theme of this year’s synod was “who is on the Lord’s side”.
The Bishop used the opportunity to call on all the youths of Ogoni to behave well including the chiefs and the political leaders urging them to return to God, saying that God is the only answer to all problems.
He criticized the federal government for abandoning the Eleme Bori road, lamenting the untold hardship faced by the people of Ogoni in accessing the road to their homes.
Bishop Gberegbara advised the federal government not to think of returning to Ogoni for oil production asserting that the one they have taken in the past, there is nothing to show for it.
On Ogoni clean-up, he described it as mere political gimmicks. He, however, commended Governor Wike for his support and love for the church of God praying that God will continue to guide and support him in all his endeavours.
While delivering his sermon, Venerable Dr. Goka Mpigi, the guest speaker, said it was important to be committed to Christ and the church of God. He said Ogonis who are members of Anglican Communion should be committed to the diocesan policy and used the opportunity to call for peace and unity among the people.
On his part, Sir Ken Babia, Deputy Chancellor and diocesan chairman of local organizing committee, described the theme of the synod as very apt, stressing that it will usher in better things for the Ogonis if they are on the Lord’s side.
