It is essential to address the misrepresentations and deflect the baseless accusations with the truth. Mefor’s main argument accuses Fr. Ebube Muonso of promoting “miracles without work” and encouraging youths to seek wealth through shortcuts. This critique unfairly shifts blame onto a religious figure, when in fact, it is the failure of the Soludo administration to provide opportunities, infrastructure, and security that has left many feeling desperate and vulnerable. The high levels of insecurity and unemployment are symptoms of bad governance, pushing people to look for alternative solutions, even within faith. It is hypocritical to attack a man of God for offering hope and spiritual guidance when Soludo’s government has done little to alleviate the actual challenges facing ndiAnambra.
Furthermore, Law Mefor’s suggestion that Fr. Muonso’s ministry is responsible for driving people into crime is not only untrue, but also dangerously shifts focus away from the root cause of the insecurity—poor governance. The crime rate in Anambra is directly linked to systemic failures, economic hardship, and, most critically, the lack of effective leadership. Instead of attacking religious figures, Soludo’s administration must address the state’s rampant insecurity, which has only worsened under his watch. The people are turning to faith because their government has failed to provide basic security, employment opportunities, and social stability. The problem of insecurity cannot be blamed on any one individual, especially not Fr. Ebube Muonso, who is responding to the fear and hopelessness that Soludo’s policies have fostered.
Mefor’s attempt to elevate Governor Soludo’s initiatives, like free education and small business loans, as solutions to Anambra’s woes is also misplaced. While these initiatives are commendable on paper, they are grossly insufficient in the face of the rising tide of insecurity. Free education does not protect citizens from kidnappers, and small loans cannot provide safety from armed criminals. Anambra needs a government that prioritizes security, accountability, and transparency. Instead of blaming Fr. Ebube Muonso for pointing out the obvious—Anambra is deeply insecure—Mefor should focus on how the Soludo administration has failed to create a safer environment for the people. The increasing violence in the state is a direct consequence of the government’s inability to tackle the root causes of insecurity and crime.
Additionally, Mefor’s claim that Fr. Ebube Muonso’s ministry promotes “wealth without work” misses the mark entirely. The fundamental issue is not the teachings of faith leaders like Fr. Ebube Muonso but the failures of the Soludo government to provide opportunities for the youth and the poor. Desperation breeds criminality, and with widespread poverty and limited job opportunities, many young people are turning to criminal activities, including ritual killings and kidnappings, to escape their harsh realities. If Soludo’s government had implemented real job creation strategies and provided economic security, the youths of Anambra would not be so desperate to seek out dangerous and illicit ways of achieving wealth. The government’s neglect of these crucial issues has pushed people into situations where crime becomes an appealing option.
Fr. Ebube Muonso’s ministry may not wield the political power that Governor Soludo’s administration holds, but the influence of a spiritual leader is crucial in uplifting the people’s morale and providing them with hope. Fr. Ebube Muonso’s message is about faith, moral guidance, and hope in the face of adversity. His words, which Mefor dismisses as mere “diatribe,” are a reflection of the pain and frustration that the people of Anambra feel due to the continued mismanagement of the state by Soludo’s administration. If the government were doing its job—securing the state, providing jobs, and ensuring basic safety—there would be no need for Fr. Ebube Muonso or any other religious leader to speak out on behalf of the people. Soludo’s leadership is at the heart of the state’s decline, and it is time the administration took responsibility for the rising insecurity.
Instead of deflecting blame to Fr. Ebube Muonso, Mefor and the Soludo administration should focus on their failures. The root of Anambra’s security crisis lies in the lack of effective governance, not in the spiritual messages of its religious leaders. If Soludo is truly concerned about insecurity, he must do more than launch press releases and blame individuals like Fr. Ebube Muonso. He must provide concrete solutions—improved policing, job creation, and a safer environment for ndiAnambra. Until the government takes meaningful action, people will continue to turn to alternative sources of support and solace, including faith leaders, because they are failed by the very administration that is meant to protect them.
Fr. Ebube Muonso’s words are not a “diatribe,” as Mefor calls them, but a call for urgent action in the face of an overwhelming crisis. It is the government’s responsibility to listen and act—not to scapegoat religious leaders who are simply responding to the suffering of the people. The failure of governance under Soludo is the reason Anambra is in turmoil today, and the sooner this truth is acknowledged, the sooner real change can begin.