‘Ibute Ike’ Syndrome

By Nnamdi Okeke

It appears that this new
concept or slang of ‘Ibute Ike’ is making many to seek other means, even supernatural to make it in life.

There are some trending videos by a certain ‘Onyeze Jesus’ which shows men and women in search of quick and easy riches being taken to a river clutching rams for money rituals.

The ‘Pastor’ who goes by the name, ‘Onyeze Jesus’ performs some rituals while being videoed, promising the participants riches. At the end of every video, he gives out his number for people interested in ‘Ibute Ike’ to call him.

The ‘Pastor’ also offers a proxy service for those who live outside Nigeria, as they can send a representative.

It appears that many believe in this as the money ritual sessions never lack participants who wish to ‘Bute Ike’.

The worrying part is that this is no longer fictional home video, the type shown on African Magic Channels, but real live videos. The participants are so desperate that they do not mind being videoed naked inside the river where they are partaking in money rituals.

Many have called for the ‘Pastor’ to be arrested for misleading the people, and for promoting a culture of laziness amongst Ndigbo. Others argue that the Pastor should be left alone, as he is rendering a service.
Those who ask that he be left alone also argue that he is bold to be doing publicly what some other ‘men of God’ do in secret.

Traditionally, Ndigbo are known to work hard for their money. This worrisome trend unfortunately will take Ndigbo back to the ‘Ana enwe obodo enwe’ days, when our people abandoned their legitimate businesses and hustle for other ‘get rich quick’ schemes.

If continued, it will feed further the stereotype that the average Igbo man or woman achieved wealth trough money rituals.

Hopefully, those that are flocking down the ‘Rivers of Babylon’ will not complain one day like Andy in the movie, ‘Living in Bondage’ that, ‘Paul akowasira ifea ofuma’.

Nsogbu dikwa!