By Cajetan Mmuta
An Anglican priest, Rev Canon Lumen Cristi Eboh, on Monday announced his resignation from office as a priest of the Anglican Communion in Anambra State.
Rev. Eboh disclosed his resignation at a press conference held in Awka, the State capital.
He alleged that some forces in the church had caused his wife to leave him, and quartered her at an undisclosed place.
He also accused the diocesan bishop, Owen Nwokolo of alleged witch-hunt and land grabbing.
Eboh who owns a charismatic congregation and prayer ministry known as God in Action Adoration Ministry alleged that the bishop wanted to take his (Eboh’s) personal land where his ministry is located.
He cited harassment, instigation, and conspiracy by the diocesan authorities of the Anglican Diocese on the Niger, especially from Bishop Owen Nwokolo, as reasons for his resignation.
Eboh noted that his involvement in charismatic activities was at the center of his conflict with Bishop Owen Nwokolo whom he accused of high-handedness, intimidation, and conspiratorial manipulations, leading to his decision to resign.
The priest who is a radio and televangelist further accused the bishop of insisting that the registered trustees of the adoration ministry be altered to include the bishop and his wife, a condition he resisted on the basis that God did not reveal the bishop to him as a vessel in the ministry.
He stayed stated that his refusal to include the Bishop as trustee as demanded and to hand over landed property of the adoration ministry to him set him on a collision course with the bishop.
The embattled cleric claimed that troubles instigated by the diocesan authorities affected his private life as a family man which led to his wife being bought over by forces working within the diocese to become an instrument of subversion and opposition against him.
According to him, “As I speak, my wife is living differently in an apartment paid for by someone who knows that she is someone’s wife”.
Eboh said the diocesan authorities used stooges and agents to try to smear his character, including spreading rumors of sexual misconduct and voodooism against him.
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He added, “I am only a priest permitted by my communion to enter the sacred institution of marriage. As a married man, I had very private moments with my wife and we shared endearing words just like every young couple. With the crash of my marriage, I have sought to reorder my life, but those fighting me have even sent young women here in an attempt to use prospects of marriage to malign my character and reputation” the priest stated.
Bishop Nwokolo could not be reached for comments on Monday as calls put across to his telephone line rang out.
He had yet to respond to a text message seeking his reaction to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
A priest who is close to the bishop, who pleaded anonymity, said Canon Eboh was sacked by the diocese before he tendered his resignation letter.
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