Title Page the APOSTOLIC CHURCH and the MANAGEMENT of the NIGER DELTA CRISIS in GOKHANA- LAND 1931-2010. by ONWUBIKO, AMAECHI J
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Title page THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA CRISIS IN GOKHANA- LAND 1931-2010. BY ONWUBIKO, AMAECHI JUDE PG/MA-Ph.D/06/42106 DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE. JULY, 2013 i Requirement page THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA CRISIS: IN GOKHANA- LAND 1931-2010. BY ONWUBIKO AMAECHI JUDE PG/MA-Ph.D/06/42106 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT, FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN RELIGION, AND CULTURAL STUDIES SUPERVISOR: PROF. CHRISTOPHER O.TAGBO UGWU JULY, 2013 ii Approval page This thesis has been approved for the Department of Religion And Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka. BY ……………………………… …………………………… Professor C.O.T. Ugwu Rev. Dr. E.A. Ituma Supervisor Head of Department ………………………… ……. ………………………………… Rev. FR. Professor. B.A.C. Obiefuna Professor C.O.T Ugwu External Examiner Dean of Faculty iii Certification We testify that Onwubiko, Amaechi Jude (PG/MA-Ph.D/06/42106) has satisfactorily carried out all the corrections on this work as suggested by the External Examiner. ___________________________________ ________________________ Professor Christopher. O. Tagbo Ugwu Rev. Dr. Ezichi Anya Ituma Supervisor Head of Department ___________________________ Professor C.O.T Ugwu Dean of Faculty iv Dedication This project report is dedicated To My father Mr. Sunday Chikwendu Onwubiko of blessed memory. v Acknowledgements My profound appreciation goes to the Almighty good-Lord who empowered me to undertake painstakingly, this academic journey. May all the glory be to Him alone, Amen. My sincere gratitude goes to Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Eze, who in 1977 introduced me to the world of academics and challenged me not to rot away within the four walls of the pastorate. I salute my supervisor Prof. C.O.T. Ugwu, with thanks and respect for his mature, professional and humane academic counselling, which became a source of encouragement, and which facilitated the successful production of this thesis. I am irrevocably indebted to all my lecturers at various times in this programme, particularly those of the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. They are Rev. Prof. Agha U. Agha, Prof. Malachy I. Okwueze, Rev. Fr. Prof. H.C. Achunike, Rev. Dr. E.A. Ituma and Rev. Prof. E.N Chinwokwu. Undoubtedly, my gratitude also reaches out to Rev. C.S. Allison, whose assertive moral, academic and financial encouragements at all times were indispensably supportive. The Revs G.O. Asuru, Livinus Iruoha Orlando Angalapu, Elder Kingsley Enobun, Elder Christopher Enobun, Deaconess Victoria Asibe, Elder Raymond Okemo, Deacon Inya Hart, Barrister Frank Onyiri, Deacon Gbarakono G., Elder Francis Igbo, Mark U. Ukaegbu who housed me for six years and others. vi I am indeed indebted to my in-laws, Elder Promise N. Akani, Dr. Alex Akani and Elder G. Amadi-Esq., and many Godly friends and relations. They include Emma Ekeke, Ken Uwakwe, Isaac Obulo (JP), Simeon Madugba, Hycent Amagharaonu and my only younger brother Sylvester I. Onwubiko, my Sisters Esther Chukwu and Mary Akapunwa Onyesoh. Finally, I remain grateful to my colleagues in God’s vineyard at the Apostolic Church Theological Seminary Bodo-City, namely Rev. L.B. Zorzor and Rev. B. Nyiedah. I also appreciate the following Local Churches, viz Assemblies of God Church Rumuduru, where I started this programme, Assembles of God Church I Rumuokwrusi, Assembles of God Church 3B Dick Tiger Street, Diobu Port Harcourt, and Assembles of God Church Rumuosi/Rumuekini. Other personalities who I will not fail to mention here include, Barrister Success Amuchie, my beloved wife Pastor (Mrs) Blessing Nnenwa Onwubiko, and my highly esteemed children; Vivien, Juliet, Judith, Jude, Glory and Charles for their love and contributions towards the completion of this academic project. May God bless you all. ONWUBIKO, AMAECHI JUDE Department of Religion and Cultural studies Faculty of the Social Sciences University of Nigeria Nsukka. vii List of Abbreviations CAC - Chris Army Church CAN - Christian Association of Nigeria CPFN - Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria JDPC - Justice, Development and Peace Commission MEND - Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta MOSOP - Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People NDDC - Niger Delta Development Commission NDPRE - Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force OBR - Ogoni Bill of Rights (1990) OCC - Ogoni Council of Churches OMPADEC - Oil and Minerals Producing Area Development PEN - Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria PCN - Pastor’s Conference of Nigeria SPDC - Shell Petroleum Development Company TAC - The Apostolic Church TATSBC - The Apostolic Church Theological Seminary Bods City. WCC - World Council of Churches viii ABSTRACT The main aim and concern of the thesis were to evaluate the role and contributions of the Apostolic Church Gokhana in the management of the Gokhana crisis, and the Niger Delta conflict. The study employed the descriptive and historical methods of research in which issued were raised, described and critically evaluated in the context of the study. In the process of data collection the primary and secondary sources were used. The data collected through the primary and secondary sources, were collated, interpreted, analyzed and presented through the descriptive and historical style. The study found among other things that the agitation of the Gokhana people was that their lives, property and eco-system had not only been threatened, but destroyed due to the problem of oil exploration, exploitation and marginalization. And the resultant effect was that the people lived in oppression, dejection, depression, abject poverty and underdevelopment; furthermore, the study discovered that the church in general, and the T.A.C in particular was not actively predisposed and committedly involved and very supportive in the various attempts and endeavours to resolve the crisis. The Apostolic Church in Gokhana was the most affected, among all the denomination in the land, as her church buildings and economic investments were destroyed during the crisis. The study also showed that the major hindrance to the resolution of the conflict was the unhealthy leadership competition among the Gokhana elites both in church as well as in the civil society. It was in view of the fate suffered by T.A.C. that made them swing into action strategies towards the management of the crisis which is the main focus of this study.. The research presented the “Season of Change” as the emerging “church shift” paradigm necessary for the transformation of the Gokhana socio-political conflict. ix TABLE OF CONTENT Title Page - - - - - - - - - - i Requirement Page - - - - - - - - - ii Approval page - - - - - - - - - iii Certification - - - - - - - - - - iv Dedication - - - - - - - - - v Acknowledgment- - - - - - - - - vi-vii Abstract - - - - - - - - - - ix List of Abbreviation - - - - - - - - viii Table of Content - - - - - - - - x-xii Maps - - - - - - - - - - - xiii-xv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 11 Background of the study - - - - - - 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - 8 1.3 Aim of the Study - - - - - - - 10 1.4 Significance of the Study - - - - - - 10 1.5 Scope of the Study - - - - - - - 12 1.6 Research Methodology - - - - - - - 13 1.7 Definition of Related Terms - - - - - - 14 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Theories and Concept of Conflict - - - - - 18 2.2 Crises in the Niger Delta (Gokhana in Ogoni) Causes And Effects - - - - - - - - 20 2.3 Christianity, The Apostolic Church and Conflict Management - - - - - - 27 2.3.1 The Apostolic Church and Conflict Management in Gokhana-land - - - - - - - 31 2.3.2 Critical Role of Evangelism and Spirituality - - - 39 x 2.3.3 The Spiritual Need of the World Highlighted - - - 44 2.4 Summary of Literature Review - - - - - 51 CHAPTER THREE THE GOKHANA PEOPLE AND CULTURE 3.1 The People of Gokhana - - - - - - 53 3.2 The Culture of Gokana - - - - - - 54 3.3 Religion and Religious Activities of Gokhana People - 61 3.4 The Orientation of Gokhana People - - - - 63 3.5 The Genesis and the Impact of the Niger Delta Crisis on Gokhana-land. - - - - - 66 CHAPTER FOUR THE ADVENT, SPREAD OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN GOKANA-LAND OF THE NIGER DELTA AND MANAGEMENT OF GOKHANA CRISIS 4.1 The Advent of Christianity in Gokhana-Land - - - 97 4.2 The Advent and Spread of The Apostolic Church in Gokhana-Land - - - - - - - 100 4.3 The Impact of the Apostolic Church on the Lives of the People of Gokhana - - - - - - 109 4.4 The Apostolic Church and the Management of the Gokhana Crisis - - - - - - - - - 126 CHAPTER FIVE THE PROBLEMS THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH GOKHANA ENCOUNTERED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GOKHANA CRISIS 5.1 The Inherent Doctrinal Questions Concerning the Crisis - 158 5.2 What Role Should the Church Play in the Gokhana-Land Crisis. - - - - - - - - - - 162 5.3 The Question of Church Not “of Politics, But in Politics” - 165 xi 5.4 Financial Hindrances Encountered - - - - 167 5.5 Educational/ Illiteracy Problems - - - - - 169 5.6 Socio-Political and Economic Problems - - - - 174 5.7 Inter and Intra Communal Acrimonies - - - - 177 CHAPTER SIX PROSPECTS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH GOKHANA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GOKHANA CRISIS AND THE NIGER DELTA 6.1 A Season of Change - - - - - - - 191 6.2 Challenges of The Future - - - - - - 198 6.3 The Leadership Change, Concept of Development and Under- Development Gokhana Index - - - - 201 6.4 “People Power”-