BY UKET OKA, Calabar
Leaders and the led in Nigeria and the world have been called upon to turn a new leaf and strive towards tolerance, love for one another as well as stop evil tendencies that have led to incessant mayhem, killings and hatred.
Speakers at the 5th Annual Public Lecture 2023 of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) tagged: “Celebration of the Divine Manifestations of the Ancient of Days, Great Leader Olumba Olumba Obu,” themed, “Impacts of God’s Manifestations on Human Civilizations” made the call in their research papers presented at the event held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Calabar, Cross River State capital.
A lecturer at the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Prof. Paul Kolade Tubi, a lecturer at Akwa Ibom State University and spokesman of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Dr. Amah Williams, as well as Dr Osunwunsi Oluwagbemiga Adekola also highlighted the influence and presence of the Supreme Being and different civilizations.
Adekola, who is of Department of Religious Studies, African Traditional Religion Section, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, recommended that interfaith dialogue and co-operations must be developed across all levels of the Nigerian society, while urging Nigerians to understand and celebrate the differences and similarities in belief systems.
“Brotherhood of the Cross and Stars (BCS) and Traditionalists should set good examples in terms of promotion of order, science of nature and art of proper living,” he advocated.
Also speaking, Prof. Tubi asserted that, “there is God and that He does reveal himself to human beings,” adding that, “if God is with man there certainly should be love and peace prevalent amongst mankind.”
He noted that the crises everywhere do not connote that God is not in existence and called on Nigeria’s political and religious leaders to unite and end the ongoing wanton killings of Nigerians every now and again.
Tubi added that “if Nigerian leaders do not do something urgently to avert increasing slaughtering of their nationals in hundreds, the country will be doomed.”
He traced the wanton killings to religious intolerance, saying it is a major problem facing the country today, urging her to overcome it soonest.
According to him, “the most violent people are the religious people who maim, raped and slaughter fellow human beings in the name of God.”
“Nigeria is presently confronted with religious intolerance. It is the major problem leading to killings. The amounts of killings and mayhem unleashed are horrible.
“Nigeria’s religious and political leaders should ensure an end to religious crises, else the country is doomed.
“I came to Calabar to assert that God is manifest and that it is our tasks to show that He is present and watching by doing good, living peaceably and forgiving one another. “
Tubi described Leader Olumba Olumba Obu as a divine being and an embodiment of peace who urges all to imbibe righteous living by aiming for peace and forgiveness at all times.
A keynote speaker and spokesman of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Dr Amah Williams spoke on the need for Nigerians and mankind in general to adapt to the new civilization brought by Leader Obu whom he stated is based on love, righteousness and unity of all God’s creation.
“We’re proclaiming that the Almighty has manifested in human form with an unmatched capacity and a new culture and civilization based on love, peace, righteousness and unity of all God’s creation. Man’s concepts of civilization will only lead to self-destruction and doom. Leader Obu is calling mankind to come out of falsehood and vanity,” he said.
William further stated that the divine manifestation of the founder of the spiritual organisation has tremendously impacted mankind and changed the course of human history.
He said if anyone was in doubt of the capacity of the Leader, described as the Ancient of Days, “Come and see”, he advised, ascribing to him superlative prowess.
According to him, “Obu did not manifest to found a church, prayer house or secret cult but the Kingdom of God,” and quoted Daniel 2:44 and other verses as well as the teaching of the leader called Everlasting Gospel.
In his remarks, the son of the spiritual being, who now leads the fold, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, noted that the manifestation of Leader Obu has impacted human civilization.
“The lifestyle, philosophy and leadership stand him out. His divine leadership and teaching have set the tone for humankind to live peaceably, which the purpose of the lecture sets to achieve.
“The lecture affords all the opportunity for higher spiritual consciousness. I enjoin all to digest the different perspectives presented by the speakers. The much sought after salvation rests with Him,” he said.