“Jesus Was An Igbo Man, The Real Jerusalem Is In Igboland” – A Professor Claims On Radio: Nigeria Broadcasting Commission Moves To Block The Programme

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has ordered Zanders 105.7FM, a radio station in Owerri, to cease airing a content it deems misleading to the public.

The directive was conveyed in a Notice of Breach of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code sent to the media house on March 20. The notice directed the station to discontinue airing an interview program anchored by one Emma Okala Okere in which features Professor Chidi Philip Njemanze – a professor of neurology, a space researcher and historian.

Professor Njemanze is gaining global fame for his six-volumes book titled “Igbo Mediators of YAHWEH Culture of Life, Vols 1-VI“. In the books he claims that through genetics, linguistics and archeology, the historicity of biblical accounts have been irrefutably substantiated. He asserts that the physical locations, names, religious concepts and practices in the Bible are all mistransliterated Igbo elements.

Njemanze alleges that the biblical accounts, from Abraham to the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles, all took place in Igboland, Nigeria, and not the Middle East as commonly believed. He claims to have uncovered the actual geographical location of ancient Jerusalem in Igboland, and other ancient Biblical cities and town within and around Nigeria and Africa. He asserts that the true identity of the Jews are the Igbos of Nigeria.

Concerned about the increasing receptiveness of Njemanze’s message, NBC warned Zanders FM it could no longer permit the “unacceptable broadcast“, as it violated Nigerian broadcasting codes. It accused the radio station of “making a caricature of the Christian faith and all that it represents.”

Specific Examples Of Alleged False Claims

The NBC cited a few specific objections it had to the professor’s assertions:

1. Allegations that “when Christ was about to be crucified, the Egbu people (of present day Owerri, Imo State) were the people that chanted for his killing (gbuo nu ya)”.

2. Claims that when “Christ’s sides were pierced during his crucification, water and blood gushed out and the people shouted “o taammiri””. This is a reference to water and blood flowing from the body of Jesus into the river now called Otammiri River in Owerri.

3. Statements that “Zachariah himself was an Igbo man”, and that “blacks are the first people God created. Also that Adam was an Igbo man – (Adaa mu)”, which in Igbo translates to “I have fallen”.

4. Assertions that “Mbaise people are the holy tribes of Levites”.

5. Claims that  “Assumpta Cathedral Owerri was the temple of Solomon”.

NBC’s Warning Of Consequences

NBC said by airing these views, Zanders FM had contravened “Sections 4.3.1(b.f) and 7.1.6(b) of the Nigerian Broadcasting code” which states that, “The broadcaster shall ensure religions programmes are presented respectfully and accurately“, and that a religious programming on air should “restrict itself to the content of its creed and not presented in a manner as to mislead the audience“.

The commission warned the radio station that failure to comply with it’s directive, the commission might be left “with no other option than to evoke very severe sanction“.

What Next?

Legal experts debate if NBC’s foray into what constitutes an authentic narrative or not of a religious story aligns with its mandate. However, Prof. Njemanze claims in a post to members of his WhatsApp group that his works validate the church’s teachings as historically and conceptually accurate, rather than refuting them. It merely contends that the identities of the Biblical people and locations involved were altered, perhaps to suit a global, geopolitical racial agenda, rather than a spiritual one.

He appealed to his supporters to help reach out to international organizations such as Search For Common Good, to protect his rights to hold his views, and that of the Igbo and global audience to hear and evaluate what he has presented as evidence.

The books of Prof. Philip Njemanze can be gotten from Amazon.

Njemanze is also an anti-GMO campaigner and a pro-life advocate that abhors human pregnancy abortions as the “original sin” and an abomination before God.

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