Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Sunday, roundly rubbished reports quoting him as admitting presence of evil spirits in the state’s Government House.
Obiano made the rebuttal in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, James Eze, describing the said report as “false, malicious, misleading and mischievous.”
Some local news media and certain online portals had reported that Governor Obiano had attended an annual prayer session of the Anglican Church, Awka, the state capital, on Saturday, where he purportedly requested congregants to help him exorcise evil spirits prowling the Government House.
Eze, in his statement, said his principal was nowhere near the church on the said day let alone speak at the event.
“Our attention has been drawn to the false and malicious report in the media attributed to the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, claiming that evil spirits had invaded Government House, Awka,”Eze said in the rebuttal.
“That report is totally untrue, mischievous and misleading. It should therefore be ignored by the general public.
“The first thing to note is that Governor Obiano was not anywhere near the venue of the prayer rally event where the report claimed the statement was made.
“The second thing is that investigation has shown that the comment is a mischievous interpretation of a prayer point raised by Rt Rev. Prosper Amah of Ogbaru Diocese of the Anglican Communion while praying against the challenges facing the nation in general and Anambra State in particular with reference to the recent petrol tanker fire outbreaks.”
The statement continued: “Bishop Amah said the prayer during the annual prayer rally of Anambra State held at Ekwueme Square, Awka, directly ascribing the spate of fire disasters to the manipulations of evil spirits and some evil people in society.
“Following the thread of Bishop Amah’s prayer, the Secretary to the Government of Anambra State, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, who represented the governor at the event, enjoined the church to pray against those planning evil for Anambra State.”
Eze was not done. He said that “The report claiming that Governor Obiano had raised the alarm about the presence of evil spirits in the government house is false, sensational, malicious and misleading. It should be ignored without second thoughts”