Florence Uwaeme
Omega Power Ministries, OPM, says its free specialist hospital will be moved to Ogoniland from Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state following the imposition of levies by on the hospital by Aluu community.
Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, the General Overseer of OPM stated this on Sunday on his verified Facebook page.
He, however, did not disclose the part of Ogoniland where the hospital will be cited.
He wrote” Breaking news…
Property has been donated in Ogoni for free hospital. So OPM free hospital will be relocating to Ogoni”.
The hospital was formerly shut down on Sunday after Aluu elders imposed levies on the facility.
Apostle Chinyere said in a statement on Saturday that: ” With a heavy heart, I the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, have decided to close down the free hospital in Aluu community with effect from Sunday 5th July 2020.
“This very hard decision was taken as a result of levies imposed on the hospital by the Aluu community.
“OPM free specialist hospital has saved so many lives free of charge. It will interest the public to know that from registration, antenatal, scan, delivery, drugs and postnatal services are free. This is a free hospital which does not discriminate”.
The hospital was opened to the public on the 18th of April 2019 to offer 24 hours services to Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliation. The services which are free focus mainly on women and children.
Apostle Chinyere explained that he expected Aluu community where he cited 12 OPM free estates, One free specialist hospital and one of the biggest free skills acquisition centres in Nigeria to appreciate him but they turned against him with a levy, despite being the number one beneficiaries of those facilities.
The church in a statement to theportcitynews said contrary to insinuations, it does not make any money from all the facilities cited in Aluu community but rather spends huge sums of money from offering and Tithe to buy drugs, pay workers and buy delivery items in the hospital with its sophisticated equipment.
Specifically, it said the generators in the free hospital are run every day despite the high-cost of diesel.
On whether he has spoken with the leadership of the community, the Apostle said: “I called some of their leaders, they said it is a compulsory levy, so I don’t have any choice than to shut it down”
“I feel sad for those pregnant women who have been using the hospital. I urge them to look for another hospital”
He added, “Once we get a new location that is more friendly, we will come and relocate our equipment. All patients have been advised to stop coming to the hospital”.
But Aluu community elders on Sunday denied imposing levies on the hospital.
A statement by Ogabakor Aluu said Apostle Chinyere by his allegation was trying to malign “our clan(Aluu) with the false accusation of been charged an outrageous amount by Aluu people.
“On the 1st of July, 2020, repentant cultists came to thank Aluu people for initiating OSPAC and giving them the opportunity to turn around from their evil lifestyle.
“It was an event that recorded huge success as the Owhor-Nu-Mpu Aluu, Aluu Council of Chiefs, Ogbakor Aluu, The D.P.O of Aluu divisional police headquarters, Aluu OSPAC and prominent Aluu sons and daughters were in attendance. Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the general overseer of Omega Power Ministries(OPM) was a guest on that very occasion.
“He was the one who prayed for the repentant cultists, and in his usual kind gesture, he voluntarily promised to enrol some of the boys in his free skill acquisition program.
“Aluu people were patiently waiting for him to fulfil his promise, before he came up with a post to malign our clan, over a false accusation of been charged an outrageous amount by Aluu people.
“It will interest the general public to know that Aluu play host to the headquarter of Omega Power Ministries(OPM), and also, over the years, Aluu has protected properties owned by Omega Power Ministries(OPM) such as; 12 free estates, one free specialist hospital and one of the biggest free skill acquisition centres in Nigeria, without demanding a dime from OPM for task or levy.
“The free specialist hospital has been in existence over the years, why haven’t we charged them all these while?
“While Ogbakor Aluu properly attends to the matter, we urge the entire public to disregard the post from OPM.
“The claim by OPM will be regarded as false accusation until we see the signatories of Ogbakor Aluu chairman and secretary on the demand notice they were served.
“On this note, we dare OPM to publicize the demand notice they claim we served them”.
