Former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, has revealed shocking details of how he was taken to the infamous Okija shrine to pledge loyalty to his political godfather just days before being sworn into office.
Ngige, who governed Anambra from 2003 to 2006, said the incident occurred four days before his inauguration. According to him, in an interview with Vanguard, powerful political figures in his camp insisted he must take an oath at the shrine to guarantee loyalty.
“They insisted I must go. I went there with my Bible and holy water. I didn’t utter a word, but someone else swore on my behalf,” Ngige recounted.
The former governor explained that he was uneasy about the demand but eventually went to the shrine accompanied by associates. In a twist, one of his aides took the oath in his place while he held on to his religious items.
Presidential intervention led to shrine demolition
Ngige disclosed that shortly after he assumed office, a security report about the shrine was submitted to then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. The president, alarmed by the findings, ordered the demolition of the Okija shrine complex.
“President Obasanjo got a report on the shrine and ordered its demolition. They leveled it, though small shrines still exist in Okija today,” Ngige said.
The Okija shrine, located in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, gained national and international attention in the early 2000s for its alleged role in settling political and business disputes through spiritual oaths.
Ngige’s revelation has reignited debates about the intersection of politics, traditional religion, and power in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East, where cultural beliefs still wield influence over political processes.
