By Uchenna Ezeadigwe,
Awka
Nigerians from across religious divides have been urged to explore the medicinal values of plants and other herbal drugs to see ways of applying them for healing purposes.
A lecturer from the Trinity Theological College, Umuahia, Abia State, Rev. Dr. Barnabas Obiorah Idoko gave the advice when he led over a hundred students of the institution on a field trip to the Centre for Psychic and Healing Administration (CPHA), Awka, Anambra state.
Idoko, who said he had identified CPHA during his visit to Awka last year, stressed that there were nothing evil in being herbalist or using herbs for treatments due to medicinal values of African plants, and urged Christians gifted in the field to utilize their expertise to the Glory of God.
“We are on field trip to CPHA. The field trip is one of the ways we are exposing those to be ordained in the church ministry to some of those things we do in Africa. Ilonzo is a renowned figure who has demonstrated an expertise in herbal medicine. And given to her wealth of experience, I thought it wise to bring my students here to explore the positive things in African culture and use of herbal medicine.
“Some Christians misconstrue the effects of using the herbal medicine; thinking it is fetish. But we have come and we have seen that there is nothing fetish in it. As a matter of fact, Christian gifted in herbal medicine can explore it in curing self and others”, he added.
Also speaking, the Chief Whip of the institution, Mr Chibueze Kingsley Ikechukwu, who said he is from Enugu State but currently carrying out his religious service at Nnewi, said he was previously made to understand that CPHA is operating under some spiritual or evil powers but the visits has changed all that.
“This journey has dispelled all the lies people are peddling against her. We have discovered that all the artifacts in her center were constructed and kept because she is an artist. We have learnt some medicinal values of plants. I can tell you that we are going to repeat this journey individually with our church members, families and friends,” he added.
Earlier the founder, Centre for Psychic and Healing Administration (CPHA), Chief, Dr. Mrs. Flora Nkemakonam Ilonzo, lectured the students on why to make African fruits and vegetables their favourite, even as she provided procedures through which they could be utilised in preventing or healing all kinds of diseases and ailments including cancer, coronavirus, pile, psychiatric issues and others.
