From IKECHUKWU NNADI, Enugu
For the people of Ezza South Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, the Idem ‘mysterious palm tree’ holds a special place in their lives. For them, the ‘special’ palm tree is a celestial gift to the community to solve their spiritual problems, or to give persons who seek spiritual powers for whatever reasons, such powers.
Daily Query can report that the palm tree is, indeed, full of powers, mysteries and magic.
Located in the remote Idem community of
Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the Idem ‘mysterious palm tree’ has become a source of spiritual powers not only for the community’s immediate residents but also for other citizens of the state as well, all who seek spiritual solutions to their problems.
The mysterious palm tree dates back to over five decades, according to one of the residents of the community, Raymond Omeh, who spoke to Daily Query.
”I grew up hearing about the Idem ‘mysterious palm tree’. Located inside our village Idem, the said tree has four branches,” Omeh narrated.
“The palm tree has so many mysterious beliefs and stories surrounding it. First it is believed that any person who eats the fruit will never die either by bullet wounds or motor accident.
“Secondly, it is also believed that the tree protects whoever comes to spend some minutes to worship it.”
When asked if he had ever eaten the palm’s fruit, Mr. Omeh said he had not but that he knew a man who had eaten it.
”When Fulani herdsmen invaded our community here and shot many farmers dead, that man was not affected. In fact, he did not incur any bullet wound and people attributed his safety to the Idem mysterious palm tree.”
Another resident of the community, Alex Oguta, told our reporter that the vicinity of the palm tree is usually a centre of worship and spiritual power source for politicians during every political season or election cycle.
“The Idem mysterious palm tree is usually visited by politicians during the political period to seek power. Again, some business men equally come here to seek power for their business,” Oguta claimed.
Asked if the mysterious palm tree has a priest that mediates between the worshippers and the palm tree, Oguta explained that “there is nothing like Chief priest there.”
“Those who so desire simply come here to worship the palm tree and get powers; how that happens for them, I do not know,” he declared.
On what is special about the palm tree that people should worship it, Mr. Oguta narrated: “One is that you can’t pick the fruits to extract palm oil. Again, the palm tree had four branches but one died, remaining three branches now.
“Added to this, the surrounding where the palm tree is situated is mysteriously hot even during harmattan and cold season. So, with this, people take it that the palm tree is mysterious and so it is.
“Again, some people discovered that each time they come to the Idem mysterious palm tree to seek favour, they usually get such favours. With this, they have come to believe that the palm tree is, indeed, very mysterious with spiritual power.”
Powers? But, exactly what powers or help do people come to seek from the Idem mysterious palm tree?
“They come to the Idem mysterious palm tree for success and political power. Some businessmen come here to seek power to prosper in their business.
“Again, some women come here to seek the fruit of the womb. One funny thing is that many of these people who come here seeking these favours, do so secretly because they are also Christians who are members of different church denominations.”
However, when our reporter sought to speak to the eldest man in the community for greater insights into the mystery of the mysterious palm tree, he was said to be ill and, therefore, too indisposed to speak.
Oguta
