Odumeje
{{Short description|Nigerian clergyman (born 1982)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chukwuemeka Odùméje
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|09|09}}
| birth_name = Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere
| alias = Odùméje
| birth_place = Anambra State, Nigeria
| occupation = Pastor
| spouse = Uju Ohanaemere née Ogbatuo
| parents =
| children = 5
}}
Chukwuemeka Cyril Ohanaemere{{IPAc-en||audio=Ig-Chukwuemeka Ohanemere.ogg}} {{Cite web|date=11 June 2020|title=Prophet Odumeje urges FG to lift proscription of IPOB as terror group|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/prophet-odumeje-urges-fg-to-lift-proscription-of-ipob-as-terror-group/|access-date=12 April 2021|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412042220/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/prophet-odumeje-urges-fg-to-lift-proscription-of-ipob-as-terror-group/|url-status=live}} (born 9 September 1982), predominantly known as Odùméje, is a Nigerian clergyman as the general overseer of The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry,{{Cite web|author=|date=6 December 2020|title=Abia Governor Suspends Chief Of Staff Agbazuere After Spraying Cash On Controversial Pastor Odumeje|url=http://saharareporters.com/2020/12/06/abia-governor-suspends-chief-staff-agbazuere-after-spraying-cash-controversial-pastor|access-date=12 April 2021|website=Sahara Reporters|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412042349/http://saharareporters.com/2020/12/06/abia-governor-suspends-chief-staff-agbazuere-after-spraying-cash-controversial-pastor|url-status=live}} and a musician.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/prophet-odumeje-unmasked/|title=Prophet Odumeje unmasked|date=9 August 2020}}
Early life
Odùméje was born in Anambra State, Nigeria, into a family of six children as the third-born child of Mr and Mrs Pius Ohanaemere.
He grew up hustling to make ends meet He had his secondary school education at Providence Secondary School after his primary education at Nweje. He desired to go further, but he went into a leather business due to financial constraints, where he first served as an apprentice.{{Cite web|title=Who is Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje? a.k.a the Indaboski Bahose|url=https://clacified.com/profile/16/prophet-chukwuemeka-odumeje-the-indaboski-bahose|access-date=12 April 2021|website=Clacified|language=en|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412032928/https://clacified.com/profile/16/prophet-chukwuemeka-odumeje-the-indaboski-bahose|url-status=live}}
Religious activity
Odumeje's claimed methods of healing earned him the title; "The wrestling pastor" {{Cite web|last=Falade|first=Faderera|date=15 November 2019|title='Wrestling Pastor', Chukwuemeka Odumeje Has A Word For His Critics|url=https://www.naijanews.com/2019/11/15/wrestling-pastor-chukwuemeka-odumeje-has-a-word-for-his-critics/|access-date=12 April 2021|website=Naija News|language=en-GB|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412035451/https://www.naijanews.com/2019/11/15/wrestling-pastor-chukwuemeka-odumeje-has-a-word-for-his-critics/|url-status=live}} Odumeje had a feud with a former female associate, known as Ada Jesus, who accused him of being a false prophet and a charlatan who stage managed miracles.{{Cite web|date=12 April 2021|title=Latest gist on Ada Jesus, Prophet Odumeje, Rita Edochie and Chi Marine Temple palava|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-56714242|access-date=13 April 2021|website=BBC News Pidgin|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413034013/https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-56714242|url-status=live}} Upon being described as a “money-inclined show maker”, he declared his detractors to be noisemakers.{{Cite web|date=29 April 2020|title=From secular dance to self-praise, dramatic deliverance sessions... meet Odumeje, the ‘Indaboski’|url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/from-secular-dance-to-self-praise-dramatic-deliverance-sessions-meet-odumeje-the-indaboski/|access-date=13 April 2021|website=TheCable Lifestyle|language=en-US|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413104711/https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/from-secular-dance-to-self-praise-dramatic-deliverance-sessions-meet-odumeje-the-indaboski/|url-status=live}}
In March 2022, his church building was identified as one of the houses obstructing drainage channels in Okpoko, Onitsha, and a part of the church was marked for demolition. The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo had pledged to clear the drainage channels to check flooding in the area.{{Cite web |title=Anambra Pastor, Odumeje Beaten by Security Agents, Church Demolished – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/07/08/anambra-pastor-odumeje-beaten-by-security-agents-church-demolished/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}} He was manhandled by the government officials that came for the demolition exercise as he tried to stop them from carrying out the operation. However, Governor Soludo reacted to the incident by promising to discipline those who manhandled Odumeje and also warned that the pastor should be ready to bear the cost of demolition since he was given adequate notice before the exercise was carried out.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-16 |title=Odumeje reacts to church demolition |url=https://punchng.com/odumeje-reacts-to-church-demolition/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}
Controversy
Odumeje has sometimes stoked controversy by his utterances and comic relief.{{Cite web |title=Pastor Odumeje’s Comic Relief – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/05/04/pastor-odumejes-comic-relief/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}} In a Business Day Oped, Odumeje's brand of religious theatrics was described as "religious charlatanism and comic relief".{{Cite web |author= |date=2024-05-01 |title=Religious charlatanism in Nigeria and Odumeje's dangerous comic relief |url=https://businessday.ng/opinion/article/religious-charlatanism-in-nigeria-and-odumejes-dangerous-comic-relief/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Businessday NG |language=en-US}} In response to a lot of the criticisms referring to him as a fake prophet, Odumeje says "I am not fake prophet".{{Cite web |last=Opejobi |first=Seun |date=2024-03-14 |title='I'm not fake prophet' - Odumeje |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/03/14/im-not-fake-prophet-odumeje/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}
In 2023, he was quoted by newspapers as warning Nigerian pastors to "stop praying for Israel or I will make you deaf, dumb"{{Cite web |last=Onu |first=Stephen |date=October 23, 2023 |title=‘Stop praying for Israel, or I will make you deaf, dumb’, Prophet Odumeje to Nigerian pastors |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/636365-stop-praying-for-israel-or-i-will-make-you-deaf-dumb-prophet-odumeje-to-nigerian-pastors.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}} in reference to Israel's war in Gaza. In 2024, he was also quoted to have threatened to kill social media critics.{{Cite web |last=Sobowale |first=Adetutu |date=2024-09-11 |title=Odumeje threatens to kill social media critics |url=https://punchng.com/odumeje-threatens-to-kill-social-media-critics/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Shotayo |first=Nurudeen |date=2024-09-11 |title='I don't use police' - Odumeje issues death threat against social media critics |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/metro/prophet-odumeje-issues-death-threat-against-social-media-critics/qp9f1lm |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}} In response to the recent massive depreciation of Nigeria's currency, the Naira, Odumeje said "Naira depreciates because I travelled out of Nigeria".{{Cite web |last=Ugwu |first=Francis |date=2024-04-26 |title='Naira depreciates because I travelled out of Nigeria' - Prophet Odumeje |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/26/naira-depreciates-because-i-travelled-out-of-nigeria-prophet-odumeje/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}
Entertainment
Odumeje has featured on musical works and has also hosted comedy shows.{{Cite web |last=Sulaimon |first=Muhibat |date=2024-04-11 |title=EXTRA: Table for 10 costs £1000 as Odumeje hosts 'comedy' show in London |url=https://www.thecable.ng/extra-entry-fee-is-100-as-odumeje-hosts-comedy-show-in-london/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=TheCable |language=en-US}} He is a singer and musician{{Cite web |last=Owolawi |first=Taiwo |date=2024-05-14 |title="What went wrong?" Old video of Prophet Odumeje as a young guy trends |url=https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/celebrities/1592269-throwback-video-young-odumeje-emerges-online-triggers-reactions-powers/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news. |language=en}} and is said to have started his musical career long before becoming a clergy. Most notably, he released a song with Flavour.{{Cite web |last=Alake |first=Olumide |date=2024-03-31 |title="I'm about to release my powers": Odumeje samples new song with Flavour |url=https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/music/1585962-na-flavour-indaboski-problem-video-odumeje-samples-song-singer-studio/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news. |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Adebiyi |first=Adeayo |date=2024-04-12 |title=Odumeje unleashes the power of 'Abido Shaker' on new single featuring Flavour |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/odumeje-features-flavour-on-new-single-powers/f5l4h39 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}} He is prolific and well known for making people laugh, bringing much comic relief in a nation burdened with so much socio-economic issues.{{Cite web |last=Rapheal |date=2024-03-14 |title=The Odumeje tomfoolery powers |url=https://thesun.ng/the-odumeje-tomfoolery-powers/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=The Sun Nigeria |language=en-US}}