Bizzare Stories a l'Ivoire

[Ian David]

Sunny Chris Okenwa
July 15, 2007

Cote D'Ivoire as a country is not without her own bizzare tales, stories socio-religious and politico-economic that puzzle an impartial observer. Africa being a land of more pain than gain, despair than hope Cote D'Ivoire has had her fair share of gripping stories that continue to define Africa in the eyes of the wider world, a definition that brings us more dishonour than honour.

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And before the Bouake saga pentecostal churches and some politicians here came under a calculated damaging attack; they were still smarting from the huge scandal involving a voodoo priest and his collaborator. The man, Behazin, and Sumah Yadi from Benin Republic early last month shook the Ivorian society with their huge recorded allegations against the pentecostal movements and high-profile politicians. In the video clip released to the public which circulated like wild fire around Abidjan and cities outside the economic capital the two men alleged, naming names, that they assisted some pentecostal pastors, Catholic priests and politicians in occultic acts that included sacrificing babies, visitations to shrines and other demonic practices for the acquisition of powers and privileges.

The Ivorian society was shaken to its foundation with the strong pentecostal missions (especially the figure-heads cited in the video) hit by the sweeping surprising onslaught to the extent that the Sunday following the release of the clip churches were deserted. Prosperous 'indicted' pastors were defending themselves, queuing up in the high courts and suing the duo for libel. The pentecostal umbrella association after much deliberations and internal investigations addressed a press conference and gave a clean bill of health to the pastors mentioned in the wild claims.

Serious credibility damage was done to the church by the videod confession of a devil and his accomplice who had seemingly sought to destroy the church of God here and Christianity in general. Men of God with decades of integrity joined issues with the evil pair saying in unison that the devil was at work. Damage control mechanisms were deployed chief of which was to come out openly -- individually and collectively -- to condemn in strongest terms attempts to take the Christian community here for a ride and its reputation (dragged) to the mud.

More:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=32263