Gov. Umo Eno during the broadcast.

By Anietie Akpan

The Governor Akwa Ibom State has gone spiritua, prophesing better days for the state saying, as the Lord has Risen after all suffering, Akwa Ibom is rising and will soon overcome all her challenges just as Jesus Christ.

While wishing all a happy Easter in his “2025 Easter Broadcast” on Sunday, April 20 in Uyo, Governor Eno thanked the people of Akwa Ibom for the love shown and entrusted on him and others to serve, noting that, “though the economic outlook has been somewhat uncertain, and we have experienced pain and anguish due to global economic challenges, just as our Lord Jesus Christ endured suffering on the Cross and rose triumphantly, we too are optimistic and assured that, collectively, we will Arise and overcome these economic challenges”.

He said, “thankfully, through prudent management of our resources, the fog is lifting, and the horizon is becoming clearer and more predictable.

“We promised to run a Christ-centric and people-oriented administration—one that places the welfare and well-being of our people at the center of our engagements. I am glad to report that we are faithfully implementing this commitment”

With the mandate “given to us serve”, Eno said, “while we have embarked on numerous ambitious capital projects spanning infrastructure, healthcare delivery services, education, aviation, tourism, housing, and transport, among other key sectors; we have also, over the past 23 months, intentionally devoted ourselves to reaching out to the poorest and most vulnerable among us, giving them a reason to be hopeful, which is the essence of this season.

“We have built over 205 Arise Compassionate Homes for the most vulnerable, provided ₦50,000 monthly, through our Arise Elderly Care Initiative to 600 elders drawn from all 369 wards in the state, and construction is ongoing at our ARISE Senior Citizens Centre.

“We have enrolled over 15,000 vulnerable individuals in our Arise Care Insurance Scheme, which recently earned us a prize as a leading State in this regard”.

On the naughty issues of gratuities, Governor Eno who has been bestowed with many awards from some reputable organizations and encomiums poured on him few days ago by Vice President Kashim Shettima that his (Eno) Human Capital Development (HVD) Plan is a “template worthy of emulation by other states”, has given workers and retirees and others hope of good things today and for tomorrow.

In this regards, he said, “we have paid over ₦60 billion out of the ₦98 billion inherited as backlog in gratuities, enabling our retirees to enjoy peace and comfort in retirement.

“We have provided free food vouchers to the neediest and poorest, with the next phase set to commence soon, as well as our several youth support programmes. Additionally, we are consciously positioning our state as a destination of choice by deploying turnkey facilities such as Ibom Model Farms, the 766 Kilometers of roads being constructed across the State.

“Our Model Health Centres, Model Primary Schools, the composite ARISE Resort, the International Convention Centre, and Ibom Hotels amongst others are strategically undertaken to position us as the tourism hub of our nation”.

“May the peace of the Risen Christ abide with us all!” He prayed adding, “Today, we join others in the Body of Christ to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and His triumph over death as well as the assurance of hope for eternal life”.

He said, “as we mark this season of love, sacrifice, and hope, I urge you, my dear people, to be rest assured that we are working diligently to elevate our state to higher levels of growth and development by prioritizing you, our people in all our endeavors”.

Governor Eno said, “Easter is a season of sacrifice, hope, and redemption. It represents love that is unconditional” and therefore declared, “Akwa Ibom is rising; our fundamentals for growth are rock-solid, and we are firmly on course for comprehensive growth and expansion”.

Leader Olumba Olumba Obu.

By Anietie Akpan

The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) has for the umpteenth time declared that, “His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, The King of kings and Lord of lords” remains its leader.

The kingdom said Olumba the son, “was publicly anointed and crowned as the king of kings and Lord of lords 24 solid years ago by His Father, the Almighty Supreme Leader Olumba Olumba Obu to lead BCS. He is the Chairman of BCS Board of Trustees and Head of Administration, BCS Worldwide”.

In a press conference by the Secretary, General Affairs of BCS, Senator B. W. Degi, on “the Corporate Status and Related Matters Concerning Brotherhood Of The Cross And Star” held on  April 18, 2025 at 34 Ambo Street, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, the kingdom warned that, “anyone fighting Olumba is fighting God”.

The press conference by the BCS according to Senator Deji was to essentially correct false and misleading information peddled in the electronic and print media on account of a press conference addressed on March 1, 2025 at No. 4 Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State,  by a handful of breakaway brethren led by one Victoria Clarke and others

Putting the records straight, the BCS declared: “Nevertheless, as much as we do not intend to join issues with the breakaway group, it has become compelling on us to put the records straight and to correct the malicious and contemptuous remarks made on the divine Holy personality and image of His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, The King of kings and Lord of lords, the Leader of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star.

“We are not surprised to read and watch the reckless statements contained in a post captioned “Brotherhood ends 24-year crisis with new Board of Trustees” and other such captions on social media platforms emanating from a press conference held by the breakaway group led by Victoria Clarke, Alex Igwe and others on 1st of March, 2025 at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

“We know their antics, we know their level of desperation, lack of respect for regulations and law. We equally know their brazing and unimaginable height of disloyalty to constituted authorities”.

For clear understanding, it will be proper to recall and paraphrase in specific terms the following issues raised by the breakaway group during their press conference:

a) That ‘new Board of Trustees’ (on a certificate fraudulently obtained from CAC which they displayed during their press conference) is the only legally recognized entity it globally authorized to manage the Kingdom as recognized.

b) That Victoria Clarke, Alex Igwe, and nine (9) others made the list of the new Board of Trustees for the BCS, thereby ending 24 years long standing crisis.

c) That His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu is held in high regard as the second child (first Son) of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu (and yet they – the breakaway group – referred to Him as an impersonator).

d) That BCS is not a family business.

e) That violence was perpetrated by BCS members against the breakaway group and that the very few bethels where handful of their loyalists worship were invaded among other spurious claims.

Responding succinctly to the issues raised by the breakaway group in their March 1, press conference, the BCS said, “we wish to let the public know the following relevant facts:

a)     The breakaway group is a handful of brothers and sisters who had since 2001 taken a firm position not to submit to the leadership of His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu.

“We utterly reject this position and we are not forcing them to remain with us. The contention here is that they can breakaway and give their organization a new name but not BCS and operate independently in the pretence of association.exercising fundamental right to freedom of worship.

“There is no responsible religious corporate entity that wil encourage the running of a polarized administrative system. This would amount to confusion and illegality besides the negative, unhealthy and unproductive spiritual implications.

b) Sometime in 2018 this group of persons approached the Corporate Affairs Commission in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for the registration of their own religious organization called Brotherhood of the Cross and Star New Kingdom Ministry allegedly claiming that there are irreconcilable doctrinal differences between them and other members of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. This move by them was good, we only queried and advised them to remove BCS and stick to their ‘New Kingdom Ministry’ as the name of their own organization to avoid misleading the public.

c) Even though they had broken away earlier, in 2020 they commenced a suit against BCS, challenging the validity of the appointment of Trustees in 2014. Judgement on this suit was delivered on 12th May, 2022 nullifying the appointment of trustees in 2014. An appeal was filed of execution/injunction against the said judgement along with a motion for stay”.

The Kingdom argued that, “on June 2, 2022, through the BCS lawyer Barrister Dafe Diegbe, we wrote to CAC drawing the attention of the commission to the appeal and motion for stay of execution/injunction and sought for the BCS file to be under caveat, specifically requesting that no new trustees of BCS be approved or recognized by the commission until the determination of the appeal. Consequently, the status quo remains.

“The commission acknowledged our letter by placing a caveat on the file of the Registered Trustees of BCS. To our surprise, the breakaway group fully aware of the pending appeal and motions (which they are not interested in defending) as filed by our lawyers went ahead to mislead the commission to apply for change of trustees. The commission eventually in error changed the Trustees and issued Certificate dated 15th January, 2025 to the breakaway group led by Victoria Clarke.

d) The attention of Corporate Affairs Commission was drawn to the obvious irregularities surrounding the issuance of the new certificate to the breakaway group; and after thorough dispassionate consideration had since on 26th February, 2025 recalled or withdrawn the said certificate.

e) Contrary to the claims of the leaders of the breakaway group, they are in fact the ones secretly and openly manoeuvring and inciting their followers to take to unlawful conducts, pretending to exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of worship and religion.

Their illegal and forceful occupation of very few of our worship centres had always been an invitation to crisis which could have led to destruction of lives and property if our members were not restrained by the leadership of Father.

One notable case in point was when the breakaway group on Sunday, 20th October, 2024 forcefully and illegally gained entry and occupied Nsikak Eduok Bethel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria smashing and destroying some sacred spiritual items therein and rained threats, abuses and blasphemy against the leadership of BCS. They orchestrated this level of illegality even after High Court in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria had given judgement against them on the 17th October, 2024 concerning the said property.

Currently, the criminal attempt to change BCS Trustees; addressing press conferences and misleading the public; smearing the divine image of BCS and its leadership has generated so much tension with implication of threat to internal security. All these have ‘gotten up to neck’ and certainly requires attention of relevant law enforcement agencies.

f) Their claim that BCS is not a family business is highly pretentious and delusional as their earlier resolve to follow the Queen Mother Helen Udo nee Obu and later on, Orlando Obu are in the public domain to compare with their current statement. Both the Queen Mother Helen Udo and Orlando Obu are children of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu and direct siblings of His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu. It is therefore ridiculous, self deceit and hypocritical for these breakaway elements to worship Leader Olumba Olumba Obu through the self-imposed leadership of Queen Mother Helen Udo and Orlando Obu accepting BCS then as family business, but when it is about the BCS as established and sustained by Leader Olumba Olumba Obu and the enthroned leadership of the King of Righteousness His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, it is no longer a family business to them.

The breakaway individuals, according to them still believe in Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, the Sole Spiritual Head of the Universe as God Almighty but does not believe in the Sonship of His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, The First begotten Son of His Father. They also believe in His Everlasting Gospel.

Although, when ever they attempt to read or preach from the Everlasting Gospel of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, areas that He refers to His Son, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu as the King of kings and Lord of lords are deliberately avoided by them.

It is clear that they have incoherent selective acceptance and understanding of the scriptures and teachings of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu they claim to worship as God.

To them, scriptures such as John 10:30 which says: ‘I and My Father are one’ does not exist. Certainly, it will be interesting to know what their answer could be, if asked: Who did Leader Olumba Olumba Obu accord the position of Sonship?”

In view of this, the BCS further declared that:

“The World Headquarters of BCS remains 34 Ambo Street, Calabar and BCS pilgrimage place or destination is the Holy City of Biakpan. The attempt by the breakaway handful of disloyal persons to change BCS Board of Trustees failed as they were unable to satisfy stipulated lawful requirements.

“The certificate issued erroneously to the breakaway group led by Victoria Clarke had since been withdrawn by CAC through a letter dated 26th February, 2025.

“Accordingly, the current status of BCS remains the Board of Trustees composed of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu and 10 others as obtainable currently from the CAC official portal”.

They said, “the foundation of BCS by Leader Olumba Olumba Obu is divine. He laid it on a solid and unshakable rock. BCS Members, Corporate Organizations, Government Institutions and the general public are hereby advised to disregard the claims by the breakaway group and disassociate from them as they may still be tempted to be parading as trustees of BCS.

“We reiterate our mission of upholding the truth for the benefit of humanity and to spread Leader Olumba Olumba Obu’s gospel of peace and universal love for one another in fulfilment of the scriptures as captured in Matthew 24:14.

“Thus, Olumba Olumba Obu is BCS and BCS is Olumba Olumba Obu. He is that Holy Spirit of Truth and Comforter promised by Our Lord Jesus Christ and BCS is that Kingdom of God contained in the Lord’s prayer. We do not intend to force this believe and conviction on any body. However, we chose to leave the world to be guided by the scriptures in John 10:37-38.

“If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, believe the works and have faith in what I do, in order that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father”.

“And Acts 5:38-39, “Now in the present case let me say to you, stand off from these men and let them alone. For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail; But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!”

They said, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu registered BCS with Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria in 1964 after moving from Biakpan to Calabar as the established World Headquarters of BCS.

“Kingdoms are established for Kings. The King of BCS, The new Kingdom of God on earth is His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu who was officially, divinely revealed ordained and crowned as The King of kings and Lord of lords by His Father, Almighty Leader Olumba Olumba Obu in a highly spiritual ceremony conducted in 1999 and appointed Him as the Chairman, BCS Executive Council Worldwide and equally Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Since then, no body has borne the tittle”, they added..

Gov. Bassey Otu.

By Anietie Akpan

As Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has extended warm Easter greetings to residents of the state, urging them to embrace the spirit of love, unity, and forgiveness.

In his Easter message to Cross Riverians, Governor Otu, speaking on behalf of his family and the government of the State, felicitated with Christian faithfuls across the state, describing Easter as a season of deep spiritual significance.

The Governor, in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Nsa Gill, said Easter is not just a commemoration of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, but a powerful reminder of hope, redemption, and the renewal of life. He noted that the season offers a divine opportunity for individuals and communities to rekindle peace, joy, and harmony within their hearts and across the state.

Reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Governor Otu called on Cross Riverians to draw inspiration from the humility, love, and forgiveness demonstrated by Christ, even in the face of betrayal, suffering, and crucifixion.

“It is my hope, believing in the risen Christ, that the love which our Saviour displayed during his betrayal by a close ally, his agony, and his ultimate crucifixion, would bring unshakeable love and peace to shine brightly in our communities,” he said.

The Governor urged residents to emulate Christ’s virtues, especially his steadfastness, prayerfulness, and forgiving nature, reminding the public that true progress and peace can only be achieved when citizens look beyond ethnic, social, and gender differences to build a united and caring society.

“As we mark this unique season,” he continued, “let us remain our brothers’ keepers, irrespective of tribe, social status, or gender.”

While wishing everyone a happy Easter, Governor Otu prayed that the message of love, peace, and joy, which defines the Easter period, will continue to abide in the hearts of all Cross Riverians.