Former Anambra State Governor and ex-Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, has made a startling revelation about a bizarre and intimidating experience he endured just before becoming governor in 2003.
According to Ngige, he was forcibly taken to the notorious Okija shrine to swear an oath of loyalty days before the election that brought him into power.
Ngige recounted that the incident happened at midnight. He said he was taken away without being told the destination and only realized where he was when they arrived at the shrine — a location long associated with fear, intimidation, and occult activities in Anambra State.
“They said I must swear an oath of loyalty,” Ngige narrated. “I know those shrines and small deities don’t work — God Almighty is above all. So I went with my Bible and holy water. When I saw what they were doing, one of them offered to swear for me, and I allowed him to do so.”
Refusal to Bow to the Shrine’s Demands
Ngige, who is also a trained medical doctor, said he refused to personally participate in the rituals because of his Christian faith. Instead, he allowed one of the shrine’s members to carry out the act on his behalf, armed with the belief that such practices held no real power over him.
Shortly after assuming office as governor, Ngige claimed he received a security report that exposed widespread criminal activities at the Okija shrine. The report, according to him, detailed how the shrine was being used for swindling, intimidation, and manipulation under the guise of traditional authority.
Ngige said he quickly informed then-President Olusegun Obasanjo about the disturbing revelations. The president, he recounted, did not hesitate to order decisive action.
“The President instructed my Commissioner of Police, through the IGP, to level the shrine. We went there, and it was destroyed,” he revealed.
The demolition marked a significant step in weakening the shrine’s influence in the state. While Ngige confirmed that the original structure no longer exists, he acknowledged that smaller shrines still operate in the community — though their influence has greatly diminished over time.
Changing Mindsets in Anambra
According to Ngige, the once-feared Okija shrine has lost much of its power as more people in the community have embraced modern thinking and abandoned superstitious practices.
“Many people have realised that the shrine was run by a swindling gang,” he said. “Those days are mostly over, and the people have moved on.”
The Okija shrine gained national notoriety in the early 2000s when law enforcement uncovered disturbing scenes, including decomposing bodies and items used for rituals. Ngige’s account adds another layer to the shrine’s dark history, revealing how political figures were also caught up in its web of fear and manipulation.
His story serves as a reminder of how traditional practices, when abused, can be weaponised for political control, and how strong leadership can dismantle such strongholds.
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