The large bill boards mounted all over the city that heralded his arrival on the big time church business, perhaps hinted of his curious identity not as one who is ready to deliver and save souls for Christ in the conventional ways like other ministers of God, but one set out to carve a personal kingdom and build a religious empire of his own. And strictly to the image he took the advantage and exploited the gullibility of Nigerians, who would rush at anything in the name of miracle.
At his Christian Praying Assembly (CPA) centre in Ajao Estate in Lagos , his words were laws. When he enters the Church, all members lay face down in reference to him. He is worshipped and adored. He assured members that they are safe from all diseases, including HIV/AIDS.In droves, Lagosians flooded the Church, day and night. |
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It is mandatory for male members to grow and wear beards just like he does. The high and the low, rich and poor, sick and healthy, thronged the Church. Life and conduct there is regimented. The moment you enter the church, you cannot go out until the service is over. The services on Sundays take between 10 and 12 hours. Any attempt to flaunt this law is seen as a confrontation against the order of "His Holiness". The punishment is severe beating, done by his aides.
Many bizarre tales have been told about the sect including forceful abduction of people to the church. On Sundays many residents of the street, where the church located, avoid the street or stayed indoor. Even usually greedy Lagos Okada riders avoid ferrying passengers to the church for fear of being held back forcefully. There are stories of members changing their surnames to 'King' to reflect the influence he has on them and as a measure of the enormity of the power they command, like him.
As it happened in some parts of the world, sects like this abound. Their ends are not usually pleasant. Apart from Emmanuel Odumosu, who styled himself Jesu Oyingbo (Jesus of Oyingbo) who died peacefully without taking any of his members along but said he would rise after the third day, Rev. Jim Jones took along with him over 900 members in a mass suicide in 1978. David Koresh, the leader of the Branch David also died with his members in a mass suicide in Waco, near Texas in 1993.
Bishop Joseph Kibwetere, leader of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments also set over 500 members of his sect ablaze in Uganda in 2000 as his prediction that the world would end in 1999, did not come to pass. Rev. King set ablaze five members of his congregation on allegation of infidelity. One of the victims has passed on.
"CPA is not a church, it's a praying group and most of us have our parent churches, which we attend when we go back to our villages. I am an Anglican and whenever I go back to my village, that's the church I attend", said a member of the Christian Praying Assembly, (CPA) who simply gave his name as Joe.
Although the very committed members of the church still manage to display some level of loyalty to the embattled overseer of the church who is currently standing trial at a Lagos court on a murder charge, there is no doubt that the teeming followership once enjoyed by Rev. Emeka Ezeugo King has waned with only very few still insisting on his innocence.
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Residents of Bishop Ojo Drive in Ajao Estate, Lagos where the church is located told us that the last Sunday service held in the Church was devoid of the characteristic sing songs which used to be the hallmark of the Church's service. The street, which until the arrest and detention of Reverend King used to be adorned with different brands of ostentatious cars, with Ezeugo's image on the bonnets and booth covers, became almost desolate.
Despite the general contempt incurred by the actions of Rev. Ezeugo who, some of his loyal members still liken his arrest and trial to the Biblical experience of Jesus Christ being dragged before Pontius Pilate to be humiliated for the sake of righteousness.
Nonetheless some who had hitherto harboured reservations concerning the
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"strange fire" with which the "King Kong" healed all forms of diseases including AIDS and HIV have no qualms calling it quit with the "man who saw tomorrow'. A motor bike (Okada) operator popularly known narrated how he was mercilessly spanked by the pastor and some members because his wife got pregnant before wedding in the church. He said he was first taken to the church by his wife who was a member.
"After I had paid the bride price and done all the necessary things in my wife's village, we came back to Lagos and after some months, my wife pleaded with me to attend the church with her. By then, she was already pregnant, so the pastor was annoyed that I got her pregnant before coming to the church for which I was given the spanking of my life".
The man who could not disclose his name for fear of being attacked said he never went back to the church and instructed his wife never to visit the church again.
Residents say that in Ajao Estate, the fear of Rev. King and his members, especially, the "law enforcement group" in the church officially known as the "Lord's Army", was beginning to gather momentum until recent incident.
The "Lord's Army" was ready to draw down the cloud on the orders of Rev. King and several conflicts had erupted in Mafoluku and Ajao Estate areas of Lagos as a result of things as simple as an argument between a member of the church and another individual. On getting wind of that, the Lord's Army would group to fight with dangerous weapons.
Although the general overseer of the church has been in police custody for two weeks, there was a reported case of outbreak of hostilities between the church members and the area boys in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos State over mundane issue.
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What compelled the members to deify the Reverend has continued to remain a mystery to most people, but some believe he has spell-binding charm and charisma that disarm every member, making them deity him with awe. His word goads |
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wives to call the bluff of their husbands and families are reported to have tasted the bitter pills.
King, (34), a native of Achina in Anambra state is a 1996 Psychology graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and is said to have no record of previous or existing marriage, a condition that projects him as chaste and celibate.
How did Rev. Emeka Ezeugo begin his Journey to becoming a Church founder?
He was a member of All Christian Practical Praying Band (ACPPA) Ufuma in Anambra State where he served as a visioner. He later travelled to Brazil to do business after which he came back to start the CPA in 1999. Those close to the church said it was founded on the philosophy of chastity and purity.
Rev. King was even seen as being capable of ascertaining whether or not a member had committed fornication or adultery The punishment for the offence was several strokes of the cane and sundry chastisements, which may include kneeling down for hours.
Sometimes, a member would be asked to slap a sinner in order that his sins would be forgiven. Physical discipline was therefore seen as an acceptable way of putting members on the part of holiness.
Sexual segregation is also seen by most of the members as a cowardly way of masking spiritual bankruptcy. There are several cases of unmarried "brethren" of opposite sex living together. It is said to be allowed as long as they do not commit immoral acts. Some who agree to marry even refer to each other boyfriend and girlfriend as an official label.
Whether the leadership of the church endorsed the language or not is yet to be ascertained but a member of the church (names withheld) said he had always wondered why people who call themselves children of God would be afraid to relate with the opposite sex. "How goat does not eat yam if he does not have access to yam? he asked in an argument with a non-member. "Even if a sister lies by my side naked, I cannot be moved because I have the spirit of God', he had boasted.
The church's belief in God's immediate response to Rev. King's prayers in unprecedented. Hear the testimony of one of the female members (names withheld): "there was a day I seriously ran out of money, I met G.O. (General Overseer) and he prayed for me. You can't believe it, that when I got home, I opened my wardrobe and I saw about N30, OOO there".
The member who now works for " Nigeria for Christ" an evangelism arm of the church, said that "King" was God's representative on earth. This could explain why the members call him "Jesus' twin brother".
Another possible "charm" Rev. Ezeugo King must have brought to bear on the church membership is his sonorous voice. Love him, hate him, you cannot fault the thrill of his songs whenever he begin his usual long sessions of praise worship that could last for many hours.
Non-members living within the vicinity also attest that, although they detest the violence of the members, abhor the noise and environmental nuisance, they cannot beat the melody of King's choruses that were often placed above the prayers and the word of God.
Okada riders at the Seven and Eight junction, bus stop close to the church also narrated their experiences in the hands of King's men. "Many of our members who dared to confront some of the so-called security men or youths of the church were roughly handled or out rightly beaten up mercilessly. We held several meetings following such attacks and later agreed that members should either stay clear of the church vicinity or avoid confrontation with its members even when they are on the right.
Since then, we had a measure of peace. But we were all silently wishing that someday the hand of the law will catch up with this man; and now it has happened, so we are very happy, I must confess".
Another rider, James Ilo, confirmed Ike's story and said he had vowed never to go near the church or carry any passenger there because of an ugly incident that involved to him in April. He had gone to Visit a friend who lives near the church. He had hardly parked his bike upon reaching the the friend's house when one of the Church's bus drivers rudely crossed his path querying why he dared to park near their church. He had barely finished explaining when another member en the passenger's side came down and slapped him.
He sustained a lot of bruises and cuts all over his body as other "church members' joined "their brother" in beating him. It was for the timely intervention of other Okada riders that saved him. It took the intervention of the community head to rest the matter.
After that incident, which was one of several others, the association warned its members to be wary of carrying passengers near the church or its environs. " Na since then I tell myself say nothing go make me to go near that area again. I dey wonder why a Church go dey hostile to people like that? CPA no be Church of God, Na devil them dey serve there. Now I am happy say the man King and him followers are in trouble. Christians who are supposed to be gentle, caring and peace loving people, no be animals like the ones in that Church. God don expose dem at last!
On his part, Jacob Olayinka, a graduate, said; "I have never gone near the church. But I have heard all kinds or reports from those who have gone there. I am a peaceful person who doesn't like trouble. How can a man of God be that wicked? I have seen his face once or twice when on his way out of the Estate in the convoy of his cars and bodyguards. That man has an evil look.
My spirit does not agree with him or his ministry. This is the real reason why I did not and cannot have anything to do with church or its vicinity. Now that the "man of God" has been arrested, there is peace in the area |
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