By Philip Nwosu
It was a carnival-like worship as adherents of the Zion Prayer Ministry thronged Amala in the Ngor Okpala area of Imo State for the conclusion of their 100 days of prayer and fasting, which started on May 18. From Monday, August 19, to the final day on August 25, 2024, the crowd kept growing, and all roads leading to Amala in Ngor Okpala became busy as religious groups and individuals who believe in the Zion Prayer Movement flocked to the venue of the three-day crusade in large numbers.
Similarly, small and big businesses alike thrived during the three-day event. Retail business owners smiled to the bank as sales of snacks, water, and drinks for attendees flourished. Food vendors were readily available, especially in the evening when members broke their fast. Attendees had chosen the duration of their fasting individually, considering that the ministry had declared a 100-day fast.
Those in the hospitality business were not left out either, as most hotels in Owerri benefitted from the large number of visitors attending the crusade.
Many visitors who could afford it stayed in Owerri and travelled to Amala every morning. Many members of the ministry, along with others who came to witness the works of God, arrived as early as possible, following the directions of Prophet and Spiritual Director of Zion Prayer Ministry, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi, who had instructed members to come to Ngor Okpala and assist in preparations for the crusade.
Indeed, business-minded individuals saw an opportunity in the gathering at Ngor Okpala. Many came to sell their wares and made a good profit during the event. For instance, vendors sold sachet water, drinks, food, and other refreshments to the large crowd that filled the previously quiet town of Amala. Others found creative ways to profit from the occasion.
It was learnt that people who had vacant accommodations close to the crusade venue offered their apartments for short-term rentals at a fee, while transporters made a tidy profit, charging as much as N7,000 per passenger to transport people from Owerri to Amala.
What surprised many adherents who came to Imo State for the crusade was the ingenuity of Nigerians in making something out of nothing. A woman and her children provided hot water for those who, due to the early morning cold, couldn’t bathe with cold water. The family acquired large amounts of firewood, boiled hot water in a big pot, and sold it to worshippers for N200 per bucket.
A native of Amala, the host community of the Zion Prayer Ministry Organization (ZPMO), Ikechukwu Okeke, shared his perspective on the Zion Prayer Ministry’s ambitious project and its impact on the once sleepy community. He reflected on the sentiments of the local people and the potential benefits the project could bring.
He said: “For some time now, the government abandoned us. For instance, there has been no government presence here, except during elections and perhaps for censuses. It’s as if we don’t belong to the federation or the state.”
Okeke expressed frustration with the local government council at Umuneke, which despite being the closest governing body to Amala, had consistently overlooked the area’s development needs.
“The council should be the first to understand and address our issues, but it has acted as though Amala and Ntu are not vital parts of the Local Government Area,” he explained.
However, Okeke highlighted how the Zion Ministry project sparked a wave of hope and optimism.
“If it takes the Zion Ministry to bring development to our community, we welcome it. Just last Christmas, I bought four plots of land here for N100,000 each. Today, because of the ministry’s arrival, a plot of land now sells for N6 million.”
Okeke elaborated on the economic and social impact of the project, pointing out the diverse range of facilities that would be established as part of the Zion Ministry’s presence in the community.
“You must have heard about the multi-million-naira business opportunities and economic growth tied to this project. The arrival of the Zion Ministry will bring about social, educational, economic, sports, and arts facilities. This is more than just a religious establishment,” he said.
The project is expected to create employment opportunities, enhance security, and improve infrastructure, including good roads, streetlights, better healthcare, and overall orderliness in the community.
“Most importantly, the project will generate revenue for our community, the local council, and even the state government. We are very pleased with what’s happening,” he added.
Despite his excitement for the future, Okeke shared concerns about the land acquisition process, which initially caused tension among the people of Amala and Ntu.
“There was early dissatisfaction because a few unscrupulous individuals acted as middlemen between the Imo State Government, Ebuka Obi, and the community. These land speculators caused unrest by making it seem like the government was trying to take our land and hand it over to Ebuka Obi without fair compensation,” he explained.
Fortunately, the issue was resolved, he said, adding that “the problem was settled, and a fair method of compensation was agreed upon, putting an end to the suspicions.”
Beyond the economic and physical gains, the voice of the Southeast governments gained additional strength when Evangelist Ebuka Obi, on the first day of the crusade, called on Igbo people worldwide to think of home.
He said: “The Lord led it in my heart to make this declaration concerning our region. There is no part of the world you can go to without seeing the Igbo people, and wherever you see them, they are multiplying and developing other regions, but their own remains undeveloped.”
He prayed and declared that if there was a curse upon the Igbo people, that curse was broken and lifted.
He lamented that while the Igbo people are doing great exploits in China and many other parts of the world, their own region remained underdeveloped.
The same pattern, he said, is seen in places like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Kaduna, where the Igbo contribute to development, but neglect their own region.
Evangelist Obi insisted that the same energy the Igbo use in developing other regions should be applied to the Southeast to ensure its development.
He called on the Igbo to bring some of their investments back home, stating, “you cannot make a change until you make a move. Every child born here wants to go elsewhere because there is no factory or industry here where they can work and make a living.”
While Prophet Obi was admonishing the people from the Southeast of the need to return and develop their community, some members of the Zion Ministry praised the wonders of God, saying that for the three days they stayed in Imo for the crusade, there was nothing like unknown gunmen and their nefarious activities.
Surprising to some members of the group was that, for that period, inside that space, there was no snake bite, strange sickness or any kind of malady that could have disturbed the crusade and prevent people from staying on the crusade ground.
Senator Osita Izunaso, who is representing Imo West in the upper legislative chamber, was present at the crusade.
He said in a Facebook post: “Earlier today, I met with Evangelist Ebuka Obi, spiritual leader of Zion Ministry in Owerri. We shared valuable insights on community development and spiritual growth.”
The Imo State Commissioner for Transport, Chika Benson, was also present.
Although the state governor was not physically at the event, his support was felt, as the Evangelist narrated how the governor endorsed the crusade and encouraged the ministry to bring it to Imo State.
He told journalists that he had been working remotely to ensure that the programme was successful and that the governor of the state, Hope Uzodimma was fully in support of the crusade.