Anglican Church Accuses Community Of Demolishing Building As Crisis Deepens

The lingering crisis between Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government
Area of Anambra State and worshippers of Ebenezer Anglican Church
Oyolu-Oze in the area deepened yesterday, with the destruction of an
ongoing building project inside the school premises.

The building, which was at its roofing stage, was reduced to rubble at
about 12 midnight on Monday by unknown persons.

The demolition which was, according to a source, executed with a
bulldozer, left the building completely pulled down from its
foundation.

Crisis had ensued between the community and the Anglican church
members about two months ago when the roofs of the school premises in
the church compound was removed for purposes of renovation by a
contractor engaged by the state Urban Development Board, ASUDEB, in
collaboration with the community.

Following a protest by the worshippers over the removal of the roofs,
the community became infuriated and its President-General, Elder Chris
Eluemuno, announced the ejection of the worshippers from the school
premises and suspension of all religious activities in the premises.

Eluemuno contended that the school was built by the community
single-handedly and handed over to the state government for academic
activities in the late 80s.

Eluemuno who is also the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State
chapter, added that in 1990, the Anglican church approached the
community to allow it carry out religious activities at the school
compound which the community obliged at a monthly rent of N20 and
wondered why the church was now laying claims to ownership of the
school premises.

Speaking to newsmen at the school/church premises yesterday, the
Anglican Archdeacon in charge of the church building project,
Venerable Frank Obi, accused the community leaders of being
responsible for such a dastardly act in a house of God.

Venerable Obi recalled that during last Monday's meeting among the
community, police and leaders of the church at the Police Area Command
Headquarters, Onitsha to broker peace, a member of the community
allegedly boasted that the church building would not take him anything
to demolish.

Also contributing, Venerable Joseph Nweke, the Archdeacon of Oyi
Archdeaconry and Director of Society for Equity, Justice and Peace,
SEJUP, Anglican Diocese on the Niger, declared: "The destruction of
the church by unknown persons likely to be Elder Chris Eluemuno, the
President-General of Nkwelle-Ezunaka who boasted recently at the
graduation ceremony of Oyolu-Oze Primary School pupils is condemnable.

"The edict made by Anambra State Government and assented to by
Governor Peter Obi transferring the school to the Anglican church has
not been repealed and therefore it is clear that the state government
cannot be lawless to destroy properties belonging to any church.