From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Youth members of the Assemblies of God Church, Zion Family, on Sunday surprised the entire pastors and other church leaders when they sealed the premises of the church at 134B Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State, over an internal crisis.
The youths had arrived early and barricaded the entrance of the church following a petition against their officiating minister, Reverend Obinna Nwoko, by a particular family of the church alleging gross misconduct.
But the youths had described their allegation as false, rather maintaining that it was because the officiating minister refused to do their bidding.
President of the youth of the church, Kingsley Asuzu, who addressed journalists on the matter, said they have decided on their action because the Odionyenma family have been allegedly accused of asserting their authority and influence on the church for a long time.
Asuzu claimed that what really got the youths and other members angry was the petition to the General Council of the church at Enugu over the alleged misconduct by the officiating minister, an allegation which the youths have exonerated him of.
“How can they accuse him of gross misconduct, they only want to use that to hang him in their petition, he has done nothing wrong, the family should rather be blamed for what’s happening in the church.
“How can a minister be officiating on the pulpit and they go there to embarrass him by forcefully dragging the microphone from him and asking him to go and sit down.
“The problem is that they have been forcing the minister to do their wishes but when he refused they brought the idea of writing petition against him, they alleged he has gone traditional in his ministrations by ending his prayers or teachings with ‘Ofor’, but this is not true.
“We wish to let the General Superintendent and all the Assemblies of God community both locally, nationally and internationally know that Zion family will stop at nothing to resist, revolt and withstand any appearance of injustice, unfairness in the process of handling the petition.”
However, acknowledging the petition on behalf of the Odionyenma family, Pastor Godfrey Odionyenma told our correspondent that the matter is presently being handled by the apex leadership of the church.
He said, “The issue you called for is currently under the careful handling of the apex leadership of the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria. As such, I have not received the necessary authorization from the church leadership in Enugu State to engage in further discussions on this matter.
“I believe it is essential to honour our church’s constitution and its guiding principles as we navigate these challenges at this time. Therefore, I will refrain from commenting on the unrest at this time, trusting that our church leaders will handle the situation with the wisdom and fairness it deserves.”