Following a remarkable recovery from a life-threatening illness, a native doctor, Chief Chukwuemeka Okwummo, celebrated Thanksgiving with masquerades at St. Michael Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State on Sunday.
Okwummo admitted at the church service that it took the divine intervention of Almighty God to heal him.
He stated , “I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance while I was unconscious, and I thank God for healing me of a sickness many people don’t survive.”
“I can attest to God’s ability to heal and to the fact that He is the only source of power and ultimate authority.
“I also thank God for the successful surgery carried out on my wife, Mrs Agatha Okwummo. I must let you know that I inherited herbalism and I have done a thorough research and know that there is no one like God when it comes to power.
“That is why I had to forsake idolatry and fetish practices, which are not the way. I still do my herbal and alternative medicine business but without rituals,” he said.
Speaking, the Vicar of Ozubulu Region of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Very Rev Fr. Hygi Aghulor, expressed excitement over what God had done in the life of the native doctor.
Rev Fr Aghulor who is also the parish priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, stated that Chief Okwummo had been healing sick people with the use of roots and herbs.
He said the native doctor had gone deeper in his trade and realised that it is only God that actually heals not the fetish practices.
On why he allowed masquerades to be part of the celebration after the church service in his parish, the vicar said that the church is not against the culture of the people.
He said priests had been told several times not to build their parishes like the ones in European countries.
“The church is not out to eradicate cultural practices that are not harmful, there are so many positive and beneficial aspects of our culture, for instance, a scholar abroad is currently carrying out research on bitter leaf, this is the same leaf many people in this part of the clime don’t appreciate,” he said.
Very Rev Fr Aghulor, however, warned young men and women to desist from idolatry and occultism, which according to him will not be beneficial to them in the short and the long run.
The brief Thanksgiving reception at the church premises featured music, dance and masquerades’ display.
