In life — both past and present — we often hear about the curious concept of sibling rivalry, brother against brother, prophet against prophet. These age-old conflicts stem from jealousy, envy, and other forms of destructive competition. The Biblical story of Joseph the Dreamer and his brothers is an instructive case study. We have read bestsellers like Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, which explores this same theme. But how does one explain persistent, harsh criticisms directed at someone you have never met nor are directly related to? Any genuine man of God should focus on preaching the gospel, spreading love, hope, and charity — not on repeatedly condemning a fellow labourer in the vineyard of God, as Fr Nwebe Joy has done with Evangelist Ebuka Obi.
For context, Fr Nwebe Joy is a clergyman ordained some ten years ago.
Among his objections to the Evangelist is that Evangelist Ebuka Obi’s emphasis on purity and open deliverance ministry has drawn many traditional Igbo Catholics into the Zion Movement fold. He also faults the public deliverance method of the Evangelist, claiming it strips people of dignity. Yet, the Bible records that Christ triumphed over demons openly and made a public show of them. Evangelist Ebuka Obi’s approach aims to continue this practice of deliverance in a transparent way that inspires faith.
In an apparent attempt to discourage some believers abroad — whom Fr Nwebe may have perceived to be key supporters — he has accused the Evangelist of exploiting the virtues of Americans, a claim that many find baseless. In another episode, Fr Nwebe claimed he visited a member of Ebuka Obi’s Zion ministry and made remarks about her attire, which many found inappropriate and unnecessary.
In one video in the public domain, Fr Nwebe, in an attempt to discredit the Evangelist’s emphasis on chastity, performed a controversial act by pulling off his footwear to connect to the bare soil — a practice many consider unbecoming of a genuine man of God.
Observers find it difficult to understand why Evangelist Ebuka Obi has not taken formal action in response to Fr Nwebe’s persistent antagonism — whether through legal channels or by reporting to the relevant church authorities. Is Fr Nwebe acting independently or is there an agenda behind this continued criticism? Only time will tell.
One thing is clear: these actions are reminiscent of the Biblical story of Joseph’s brothers who, out of envy, plotted against the dreamer and said, “Let us kill him now, and see what becomes of his lofty dreams!”
On this note, I appeal to the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria and other church leaders to caution Fr Nwebe Joy against this apparent pull-him-down approach. Such conflicts only serve to tarnish the image of the church and its mission. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
Shalom!
* Azu Okafor, a concerned Catholic faithful, wrote from Awka, Anambra State.
