By Emmanuel Udom
Lagos
For parishioners of St John’s the Evangelist Catholic Church,
August 30, 2015, was a memorable day. It was on that fateful day, religion
met with tradition, at the church auditorium located at No 2, Wuroala Street,
Ladipo, Oshiodi, Lagos.
The event tagged: “South-South Zonal Harvest of Divine
Visitation”, attracted some 10,000 people to the church auditorium, where
religious and traditional music, assorted local delicacies, as well as
traditional dances were not in short supply.
Parish Priest of the Church, Rev (Fr) Patrick Obayomi, set the
ball rolling when he declared that every year, parishioners and
non-parishioners of the Church, from each of the six political zones in
Nigeria, dressed in their traditional attires, will cook their traditional
dishes and entertain the audience with their spectacular traditional dances.
His words: This year, it is the turn of parishioners from the
south-south zone of the country, comprising: Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers,
Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States.
John Echieta, a Chief Superintendent of Police and Commander,
Anti-Terrorism Squad, Lagos State Police Command, in his remarks poured
encomium on the church in its efforts to marry tradition with religion.
Echieta, who was chairman at the occasion however called on
Nigerians to live in peace with one another, regardless of their religion or
tribe, saying that God has blessed the country abundantly with material and
human resources.
The parishioners dressed in their best traditional attires
entertained the audience with their electrifying dance steps. For
instance, Dr (Mrs) Grace
Achum, an indigene of Greek Town, Cross River state,
who led indigenes of the state, was observed dancing round the church
auditorium with her entourage.
She told our correspondent that local delicacies like: Afang soup,
Edikang Ikong, Atama soup and Afia Efere were prepared and served all the
invitees at the event.
Some of these parishioners and non-parishioners in appreciation
made monetary donations towards to completion of the ongoing construction works
of the church edifice, she said.
Chairman of the Occasion, Commander John Echieta, a Chief
Superintendent of Police, said that over the years, a number of Christians and
non-Christians, who have attended the social events, have been blessed beyond
donating their widow’s mite for the church building project.
Also speaking on the event, Dr (Mrs) Grace Achum, Editor-in-Chief,
Business Plus magazine told our correspondent that some Efik delicacies like:
Afang soup, Edikang Ikong, Atama soup and Afia Efere were prepared and served
all the invitees at the event.
Mrs Pauline Itodo, a parishioner of the church from North-central
Nigeria was visibly excited as she was spotted dancing excitedly to the
traditional music from Edo and Rivers State.
An indigene of Edo state, who simply identify herself as Miss
Margret Osagie said that the starch soup that was prepared and served the participants
could not go round as people, who enjoyed the soup were calling for more.
Some of the key parishioners of the church that attended and
participated in the event were: Mrs Rebecca Igboga, Mr Onyeku, Rev Fr Theodora
Martins, Associate Priest of the Church and Mr Nelson George, Group Crime
Editor, Business Plus Magazine, Lagos, among
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