By Dr. Ebuka Onyekwelu
Mr. Chukwuemeka Cyril Ohanaemere, who is more popularly known as Odumeje, is the founder of the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministry in Onitsha, Anambra State. Odumeje, who has gained prominence for all brands of what could be, on the face value, regarded as comedy shows, has somehow made an impression across diverse audiences. His Church on Bida Street, Onitsha, is a territorial entity that commands hundreds of worshippers from different backgrounds every Sunday. Recently, Prophet Odumeje marked his birthday, and here are some of the lessons that have transformed him into a national sensation, beyond the drama.
It is, in my considered view, a serious error for anyone to mistake Odumeje for a comedian. On November 2nd, during his birthday celebration in his Church, Odumeje himself said that he put up some shows as a way to draw attention. Therefore, the real comedy would be any attempt to dismiss as nothing the veracity of Odumeje’s own path, carefully carved and followed. This is simply because it would be inexhaustible to try to measure the extent attention can go towards helping people realize their goals. Then, also, what was used as bait for the initial attention might not be the goal. If a sprinkle of bad english or extended dramatisation faulty pronunciation can deliver national recognition, it is certainly not out of place. Only a few days ago, Odumeje was on United Nigeria’s opening flight from Nigeria to Ghana, along with the Airline’s founder. This further demonstrates his solid position as a person of consequential influence. He was not on that flight as a comedian, and he was not there as a prophet. He was there as Odumeje.
It might sound ridiculous, but Odumeje has the world in his purview as his target sphere of influence. He is not satisfied with a big Church on Bida Street or his prominence on Social media. This is why Odumeje described himself as “a man the world can not explain.” One might wonder why Odumeje sees himself as someone the world does not understand. But why not? A prophet, who is a preacher of the Bible, but features in secular music with lewd artists. He publicly interacts and hobnobs with all manner of people, as well as yields his pulpit to anyone as he pleases. There is no doubt that Odumeje is pioneering a brand of syncretism that is worthy of serious interrogation. What is happening is that Prophet Odumeje is trying to bring together different people of diverse religious, spiritual, and thought backgrounds under the same roof. In fact, right in his Church, there is a bold inscription thus, “There is only one God, only one power, His name is Jesus Christ.” This is engraved on the base of the overflow behind the pulpit. Without any controversy, this idea of the oneness of God is both the foundation and essence of Odumeje’s ministry, and this is not a local agenda.
On his birthday, no less a person than Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, OON, SAN, a well-respected legal icon and a District Grandmaster of Freemasonry, was the special guest and speaker. Dr. Ikpeazu preached to the congregation, charging them on various Christian ideals derived from the many verses of the Bible he preached from. He also made reference to the engraved inscription behind thr pulpit. The point really is that if Odumeje were a comedian, he would never be honoured with the presence of someone like Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu. Still, during the birthday, Odumeje was given an award by a team of Bishops led by Archbishop Eddy Ogbomie. During this award, this is how the Bishops described Odumeje and why they judged him deserving of the award. “Prophet Odumeje is a defender of different faiths worldwide and globally.” In other words, Odumeje is a syncretist.
The Birthday, which was attended by the best of Nollywood actors, including Kanayo O. Kanayo, featured all categories of businessmen and women, politicians, friends, and associates of Prophet Ohanaemere. Very noteworthy is how Odumeje received every single guest of his with personal warmth, and despite having different sets of ushers and assistants, Odumeje mostly took charge of his guests and personally assigned them to seats. Throughout, it was very difficult to get Odumeje to sit down, which forced the MC, a veteran Nollywood actor, to consistently appeal to him to sit down and allow the event to proceed as scheduled. Odumeje has a lot of energy, and he is naturally invested in people. It didn’t matter if the person was prominent or unknown; he gave all his guests a sense of personal value, which could only mean that Odumeje has a great regard for people he knows. As a general rule, people tend to like those who treat them well. With a ‘celebrity’ like Odumeje, the personal warmth with which he treats people only further endears them to him.
In the end, Odumeje deserves more careful consideration. He knows what he is doing.
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