Our attention has been drawn to the false and malicious report in the media attributed to the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, claiming that evil spirits had invaded Government House, Awka.

That report is totally untrue, mischievous and misleading. It should therefore be ignored by the general public.

The first thing to note is that Governor Obiano was not anywhere near the venue of the Prayer Rally event where the report claimed the statement was made.

The second thing is that investigation has shown that the comment is a mischievous interpretation of a prayer point raised by Rt Rev. Prosper Amah of Ogbaru Diocese of the Anglican Communion while praying against the challenges facing the nation in general and Anambra State in particular with reference to the recent petrol tanker fire outbreaks.

Bishop Amah said the prayer during the annual Prayer Rally of Anambra State (APRAS) held at Ekwueme square, Awka, directly ascribing the spate of fire disasters to the manipulations of evil spirits and some evil people in the society.

He observed that no place was spared of evil as there were evil people everywhere, even in government. But at no time in his prayer did he make any reference to evil spirits inhabiting the Government House Awka.

Following the thread of Bishop Amah’s prayer therefore, the Secretary to the Government of Anambra State (SSG) Prof Solo Chukwulobelu who represented the Governor at the event, enjoined the Church to pray against those planning evil for Anambra State.

Prof Chukwulobelu also used the opportunity to assure the people that the government of Anambra State had rolled out policies that would help to forestall such fire outbreaks in the future and to strengthen the response speed of the agencies responsible for handling emergency in the state.

The report claiming that Governor Obiano had raised alarm about the presence of evil spirits in the government house is therefore false, sensational, malicious and misleading. It should be ignored without second thoughts.

Thank you

James Eze
Chief Press Secretary