The Elebele community of Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State has marked the 54th anniversary celebration of the ban on idol and voodoo practices in the community called ‘Eyal Okporiruru’.
Speaking to newsmen during the anniversary celebration recently, paramount ruler of the community, HRH David Osene Osene(Ogbolo XI) described the era of idol worship in the fast urbanizing town as a horrible experience.
He revealed that since the ban on idol worship and voodoo practices by the community in 1970 through the present era, God has swung the level of development of the community to enviable heights.
The royal father who also relived the happenings and way of life of the Elebebe community during the peak of idolatry practices noted that it was a herculean task living in the community, as hardship, untimely death and retrogression were synonymous with the daily lives of the people then.
He attributed the rapid urbanization of the community to their relationship with and fear of God, saying the community is fairing better now upon shunning idol worship.
He said: “You can’t dare do anything in this community which the idol worshippers then see or perceive as against their dictates. We as a community were living by the whims and caprices of these idol worshippers.
“Our mothers, fathers and children, brothers and sisters, friends and relatives who are not in support of these idol worshippers died untimely.
“But since idol worship and voodoo practices were put to an end in this community, our lives and trajectory of growth and development has been on the rapid side”.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Elebele Community Development Committee (CDC), and Chairman of the festival planning Committee, Mr Precious Okala underscored the importance of the festival, noting that available records had it that the idol worshippers in the community, when they were still allowed to operate meted out various forms of evil and wickedness to the unsuspecting indigenes and people living in the community.
He thanked God for the freedom of the community from the scourge of idolatry and voodoism, just as he lauded natives of the community and others for participating in this year’s edition of the festival.
Highpoints of the event were exhortation by the General Overseer and founder, Royal House of Grace International Church, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey, live gospel band and inter-compound orchestra procession, amongst others.