Soludo orders crackdown on fake pastors in Anambra

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has called on leaders and members of the laity council to embrace courage and moral discipline as key drivers of societal transformation, insisting that governance and religious knighthood must prioritise public good over personal or symbolic prestige.

Soludo made the remarks on Sunday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, during the All Knights Day celebration of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, where he commended the Church for promoting values centred on the common good and social responsibility.

The governor, however, drew attention to what he described as a widening crackdown on “fake pastors” in the state, alleging that some religious figures exploit vulnerable citizens by preaching what he termed “salvation without the cross.” He disclosed that several of those arrested are already in custody and assisting investigations.

According to him, “A new Anambra is in the offing, which must be clean and clear of such deception. We are reinforcing the church’s teaching that hard work pays and not the other way round.”

Soludo also used the platform to highlight reforms under his administration, particularly the Anambra burial law, which he said has curbed excessive spending and flamboyant burial practices, promoting what he called “decent and dignified burials” instead.

In a firm stance on public spending, the governor approved a request by the Knights for support toward charity visits to orphanages but declined funding for the production of uniforms, stressing that state resources must not be used for private institutional appearances.

He urged the Knights to remain “the light of the world and salt of the earth” by living out discipline, humility, and service, rather than relying on titles alone. He also warned against elitist isolation, calling for greater engagement with ordinary citizens.

The event featured a Pontifical Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, while the homily was delivered by the Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Iheanacho, who described knighthood as a lifelong journey of reflection, accountability, and adherence to moral precepts.

The development comes amid broader enforcement actions in the state, including reported arrests of individuals accused of ritual practices and financial crimes, as authorities intensify what they describe as a clean-up of criminal and exploitative networks.

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