The Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia, was subjected to severe public humiliation on Friday after a church congregation vehemently rejected his claims regarding the state government’s provision of potable water.
The drama unfolded at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ogbete, Enugu, during the Third Session of the 19th Synod of the Diocese of Enugu. The synod was held under the theme, “Revival Labours: A Prepared Heart to Study, Do and Teach the Word.”
Trouble began shortly after the Presidential Address was delivered by the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ike. Prof. Onyia, who was dispatched to represent and defend the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration, mounted the pulpit to address the congregation.
While attempting to give a progress report on the administration’s performance, the SSG touched on Governor Mbah’s highly publicised campaign promise to provide pipe-borne water to every household in the state capital within 180 days of his inauguration.
Onyia boldly declared that since the administration made the pledge, water infrastructure had been successfully deployed, claiming that water now flows in “so many places” and has practically reached every home in Enugu.
The assertion immediately turned the sanctuary into a hostile courtroom as the congregants loudly disrupted the speech. The worshipers erupted into a thunderous chant of “No! No! It’s a lie!”
A viral video clip of the embarrassing incident, seen by SaharaReporters on Saturday morning, captured the moment the top government official struggled to calm the visibly agitated crowd. Standing at the altar pulpit, the flustered SSG pleaded, “No! No! Do not shout no. I will tell you that — I can take you to go and verify.”
However, the congregation completely rejected his explanations, and the chorus of “No, no, no, it is a lie!” echoed so loudly across the auditorium that the SSG could no longer finish his speech. Disgraced and unable to manage the situation, Onyia was forced to abandon the pulpit and return to his seat amid jeers.
The public backlash at the synod, SaharaReporters gathered reflects growing citizen frustration over the stark contrast between official public relations and the reality on the ground in Enugu.
During his campaign and subsequent assumption of office, Governor Peter Mbah had branded himself a modern-day miracle worker, pledging a historic 180-day deadline to eradicate the perennial water scarcity plaguing the coal city.
However, more than three years into the administration, the lofty promise has evaporated into dust for a vast majority of the citizenry. Investigations by SaharaReporters reveal that only specific neighbourhoods that already enjoyed water supply prior to the administration continue to see water — and even then, not on a regular basis.
Residents have consistently maintained that while a few neighbourhoods that previously enjoyed government water supply still receive water intermittently, many other communities remain without access to pipe-borne water.
The prolonged shortages have forced thousands of households to rely on commercial water vendors and privately owned boreholes for domestic use.
The situation has also led to a significant increase in the cost of purchasing water, with residents reporting that prices charged by water vendors have risen sharply compared to previous years, placing additional financial pressure on families already grappling with the country’s economic challenges.
For many in the state, the attempt by a high-ranking state official to sell a mirage as a river before the altar of God was an insult too heavy to bear. As the dust settles on the synod embarrassment, political analysts warn that a government that consistently misleads the public will likely hear the same echo of “It’s a lie!” transition from the church pews straight into the ballot box.
(SaharaReporters)
