The Zion Family Assemblies of God, Owerri, has called on the General Council of the Assemblies of God, Nigeria, to ensure transparency, fairness, and democratic principles in resolving the ongoing dispute between the Odionyenma family and the church's resident pastor, Rev. Dr. Obinna Ugo Nwoko. The church, a prominent branch of the Assemblies of God established in the early 1980s, has been a beacon of peace and growth under Pastor Nwoko's leadership. However, the Odionyenma family has been accused of persistently disrupting the church's progress, allegedly leveraging their connections within the General Council to victimize the pastor. The church's youth and stakeholders have issued a strong statement demanding justice, transparency, and an end to what they describe as "devilish activities" aimed at destabilizing the church. They warn that any perceived injustice or bias in handling the case will be met with resistance, as they stand firmly in defense of their pastor and the truth of the gospel.
A Call for the General Council, Assemblies of God, Nigeria to ensure Transparency, Openness, Uprightness, Sincerity, and application of Democratic principles in the adjudication of the case between the Odionyenma family and the Zion Family Assemblies of God/Rev Dr Obinna Ugo Nwoko, the resident pastor.
The Zion Family, Assemblies of God Nigeria, 134B Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State is the sectional headquarters of the Owerri Urban Two section in Owerri District of Assemblies of God, Nigeria. The local church is among the branches of AG established in the early 80s. It has prominent AG stakeholders, professionals and youths who are ardent believers of the gospel and followers of Christ. Zion Family is known for peace, commitment to the district and general council of AG. In the Owerri District, the church ranks among the first five churches.
At the retirement of their immediate past minister, the Rev HN Nwachukwu (Rtd), due process was followed by the district to allow the church to nominate and elect the pastor they wish to be posted to pastor them. Several attempts were made by people outside the church to influence nomination, but as God may have it, the church stood its ground and overwhelmingly voted, Rev Dr Obinna Ugo Nwoko to pastor them about three years ago. Being a young and dynamic pastor, he has achieved tremendous growth in numerical strength, finance and physical projects.
However, a negligible set of families, especially, the Odionyenma family has remained a cog in the ministerial progress of the pastor and peace in the church. This same family troubled the retired former reverend, having the sole agenda of distracting Zion Family resident pastors from discharging their duties. They said they are of the Rev Dr Charles Osueke family, a one time general superintendent of the Assemblies of God Nigeria , and therefore always attempt to lord over ideas on the pastors. Rev. Obinna Nwoko has refused to be controlled by the family and they resort to pushing hard to influence the district and the general council to victimize and frustrate the pastor. While the District in late 2024 visited the church and brokered peace, asking all members to follow the peace path for the sake of Christ, the Odionyenma family felt that the pastor whom they accused of campaigning for someone in an election that will take place about two years from the time of the alleged campaign, inviting a non-AG pastor to preach in the church, and teaching traditional practices (Offor teaching). The primary aim is to influence the General superintendent whom they ported is their family friend and working with their relations in the general council to achieve their evil intent of sending the innocent pastor packing based on these baseless, unfounded and envious allegations. The family appealed the peace path of the district and praying the general superintendent to suspend our pastor and send him packing.
The case was deliberated upon on the 26th of February, 2025 with the deacons of AG Zion Family in attendance, the youth representatives were also there but were sent out by the general superintendent.
It is the event of 26th February 2025 that agitated this write up. More than 98 percent congregants of the Zion Family AGC who have waited patiently for the general council to sincerely, transparently, righteously, openly, fairly and democratically handle this case wish to state categorically that even though the matter was adjourned, the body language of the General superintendent and others who are adjudicating this matter shows they are biased, appear compromised and set to dance to the devilish wishes of the Odionyenma family who have tormented the peace and progress of the church for the past three years. We wish to let the GS and all the AG community both locally, nationally and internationally know that the Zion Family will stop at nothing to resist, revolt, and withstand any appearance of injustice, unfairness, and lack of democrats process in handling this matter. Members of the church had followed the path of peace trusting that the general council will handle this case transparently. Unfortunately, we smell politicization, familiness, unfairness, unjust and lopsided utterances by the general superintendent and those handling this matter.
Let it be known to the whole world that the issue of campaign has eaten deep into the electoral system of AG that even the very election that produced the present General superintendent is not an exception. The Odionyenmas see Rev Obinna Nwoko as a strong rival to their brother, Rev Julius Odionyenma in the forthcoming Owerri District election of presbyters. That's why they will stop at nothing, including lobbying the generals, and falsifying documents to victimize the innocent pastor.
The Youth Ministry department of the Zion Family AGC demand as follows:
1. That the general council should handle this case sincerely, objectively, democratically, uprightly, and transparently. Anything perceived to be contrary to these will be vehemently resisted. The general superintendent should jettison highhandedness, politics and familiness in addressing this case. This matter is a litmus test on him and his office.
2. They should visit the Zion Family to hear from the over 350 worshipers who are displeased at the devilish activities of the Odionyenma family against the church, even to the extent of arresting our assistant pastor and a deacon, writing false news on the social media against our pastor and the church. Yet the general superintendent remains silent on these.
3. We demand that the general council looks into the falsified minutes of the Owerri District presbytery which was perpetrated by Rev J Odionyenma in favour of his family and contrary to the actual decisions of the presbytery on this case. If he is found wanting on this, he should be demoted, removed from the office of the district secretary for pursuing family interest against the official district presbytery resolution on this matter. The whole world will be watching the general superintendent on this and the investigation has to be concluded before the conduct of Owerri District council elections. This case is capable of disqualifying the Rev Odionyenma.
4. That our pastor never campaigned for anybody but only jovially made an analysis of how elections might go before youths are are not eligible voters that visited him. The Pastor Chimeremeze Odionyenma, who already is the Chief purser of the Odionyenma agenda took that jovial expression to his uncle Rev Julius Odionyenma who has been eagerly and earnestly awaiting for an opportunity to strike the innocent man of God.
5. The God of Assemblies of God will not hesitate to disgrace out of office any persons who fail to represent Christ in their offices. The Zion Family will not keep quiet and watch any persons or group of persons humiliate, victimize and disgrace our God-given innocent man of God. We will resist them and teach them how to be transparent and sincere in handling matters of this nature.
6. Finally, the general council should urgently visit Zion family to feel our pulse on this matter. They should Not pass a judgement based on the allegations from one family. Delaying this dispensation of justice, will make the Zion Family AGC take decisions that might not be palatable. First, the Odionyenma family and their allies have brought about insecurity in the church such that our children and the elderly are at the mercy of the unruly behaviours including openly confronting the Pastors and the elected deacons.
7. We stand for peace and have held to peace for several years. But this family has arrogantly humiliated pastors and members and the General superintendent seems to be praising them and blaming the pastor and deacons.
8. Any pronouncement of suspension of any of our pastors, deacons or agitating members will worsen this matter. We will not only resit it, but will also pronounce suspension of such leader and announce it to the global community for suppressing the truth and attempting to victimize the innocent.
9. It is better the Odionyenmas transfer their worship to the local church pastored by their brother Rev J Odionyenma. They are not compatible with the truthful teachings of our pastor and are not amenable to instructions. Since they were dropped from departmental leadership, all their efforts have aimed at frustrating the programmes of the church.
10. Enough is enough. This nonsense must stop. The Youth have arisen to defend the truth in the light of the gospel and the gate of hell no matter where is coming from Cannot prevail against the Zion Family AGC.
Signed :
- Asuzu Kingsley ( Youth President)
- Ekeoha Nmesoma(Vice President)
- Agu Emmanuel Chinonyerem (Youth Secretary)
- Chikwe Ikemdinachi ( Youth Treasurer)
- Nwauba Chinazaekpere ( Provost)
- Dr. Agu Godswill Agu( Patron)
- Nmaju Ifeanyi ( Sectional Youth President, Owerri , Urban ii )
- Amaechina Ugochukwu Samuel ( Stakeholder)
- Ezuruike Kenneth ( Member)
- Pstr. Nbisike Ebubechi Daniel ( Member)
- Anyaegbu Cherechi ( Member/Band Leader)
- Onumajuru King David ( Member)
- Onyedika Rubinson( Stakeholder)
- Okorie Chimeremeze ( Member)
- Anyaele Victory ( Teen's President)
- And many others......
