Festus Ezeh l Wednesday, September 18, 2019
NNADO, Anambra, Nigeria – It sounds strange and unbelievable, that a dead Iroko tree could stand up from the ground six years after it was cut down for human use. This is not folktale, but the stark reality at Iyi-Ojie Shrine, Nnado, Anambra State.
Chief Priest of the shrine, Igwe Onukwube Udemezou, who spoke with our reporter in Anambra said the incident occured June 9th, 2019 when the tree suddenly stood up from the ground as soon as the woodcutter laid his mechanical saw on the trunk.
According to him, he never knew that such mysterious powers exist in the shrine despite being the Chief Priest.
“The tree trunk just rose up and stood erect, many years after it was cut down. The Iroko tree was felled 4th August 2013, people have fetched the branches to make fire after owner of the farmland had cut it down to enable him cultivate the soil.
“He approached me as chief priest to facilitate shreading of the trunk lying on the floor to enable him cultivate the land since the trunk of the tree is massive. I went there on Sunday 9th June 2019 with a local machine man to cut the tree to enable the land owner farm on it. The woodcutter started his machine and placed it on the tree-trunk but suddenly it rose and stood errect on its feet.
“He ran to me that the tree had risen and I asked, if it was possible for a tree cut down since 2013 could rise up again. But, a friend asked me to go with him to the place and when we rushed to the place, behold, the tree-trunk was standing straight upward with all kinds of reptiles, insects and other animals surrounding it.
“As a chief priest, I knew something was wrong, it did not just happen. I latter went out to find out about the cause by consulting many oracles, during which I discovered that the shrine was not happy with the community about certain ills. I called the elders in the community and told them, they also made their own findings and we appeased it by carrying out some sacrifices as it demanded” he stated.
According to him, the incident was to pass a message to the community about some ills, which it warned against. He explained that after the incident, people started visiting the site for prayers to solve their problems and they are getting positive results.The Chief Priest explained that the importance of the incidence was to inform people about its existence and efficacy as well as the ills in the land.
“If you look around, you will see the white clothes, white chalks and kola nuts brought by those who come here for prayers. I only know about their prayer-visits when they come for thanks-givings “he added, stressing that “Nnado people’s eyes were opened to the power of this shrine after the incident.
“This actually opened our understanding about the powers in this shrine. Even me as Chief Priest, I did not know that such powers exist in the shrine. I never expected that it would happen, though, our elders said such mystery happened around 1960s or 1970s in one village in Nnado though I was not born then”, he said, and advised people to always do the right thing as the shrine can save and at the same kill anybody who does evil.
“When you come here and continue to persist in evil deeds, the shrine will strike you to death immediately. The Bible enjoins us to do good at all times, so also the tradition and shrine”, he noted.
According to him, the shrine was instituted by the ancestors and inherited from great- great fathers who use to worship the gods.
“I am not a native doctor but a Chief Priest. I became Chief Persist because the lot fell on me. We all know what is good and bad before God. If you want to worship God in a traditional way, be holy and you know what God wants you to do. We are worshiping God through different means. I am also of the Anglican Church” he stated.
He debunked insinuations in some quarters that humanbeings are used to make sacrifice in shrines , saying that shrines require no human being for sacrifices but animals, like cows, goats and fowls. He said God did not create man to be used for sacrifice in shrines.
“Honestly it was after the incident that I developed more interest, respect for the tradition and our shrine. Before now, I was doing it because the lot fell on me to be the Chief Priest at a young age. I was doing as the elders instructed. I did not know that power and spirit are here as much as has been demonstrated by the rising of the tree trunk” he added. Meanwhile, more Iroko trees have sprung up around the tree to replace the old one since the incident.
