Calabar — There is an inexplicable force that is pulling Nigerians and non Nigerians to Calabar, the capital of Cross River State for religious reasons. Could it be because of the many religious festivals and feasts organizations now frequently hold?
In this month of Easter - a period when Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a vast array of worshippers have flocked from far and near into the city.
What is surprising however is, despite the numerous Christian groupings and their teeming faithful, there is apparent harmony amongst them contrary to expectation.
Trust the Cross River State government which places tourism on top of its agenda as a major revenue earner. It has swiftly cashed-in on the opportunity to harness and maximize potential embedded in the preponderance of religionists. In a way, government sees them as tourists.
The government created an office that would see to the coordination of these religious organisations in the state. It is manned by Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters, Reverend Eyo Okpo-Ene.
He has confirmed that indeed the government has crafted a policy that would not only harness potential of these religious houses, continue to maintain their harmony and see how they can boost the state's economy.
The state hosts many regional and international headquarters of philosophical and religious organizations which regularly travel to the state to perform their religious rites.
Prominent ones include: AMORC, Eckankar and Freemason Society Grand Lodge. Traditional and some weird religious practices are also available; all have huge presence in the state. These all have regular programmes that pull legions of worshippers into the state.
One of such sects, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is said to have outposts in many continents with faithful running into several millions. It constantly pulls enormous crowd into Calabar through its fearsome sole spiritual head, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu. Obu who has been a centre of immense attraction following transcendental feats he is said to be performing lives and teaches in Calabar.
The Calabar South local council has repeatedly acknowledged the huge contributions of the organization to the steadily boosting of its tourism and economic profile by reason of its headquarters cited in its domain.
The state government through Reverend Okpo-Ene has called on Leader Obu, more than once to encourage him and to express the happiness of Governor Liyel Imoke's administration for the huge contributions of the fold to the state through steady influx of foreigners and local members into the state for their many religious festivals and establishment of countless infrastructures and ventures in the state. He emphasized that the government cannot just overlook such an organization but has deep interest to partner with it.
Since 2001, the fold has held annual mega events during Easter that bring in hundreds of thousands of its members across many countries into Calabar as the seat of its world headquarters. Every month, different groups visit the birthplace of the founder in Biakpan on pilgrimage and also bathe in a mysterious stream, reputed to have curative powers.
Last year, when they celebrated what they called Abba Father a record crowd of about one million adherents were said to have participated. This Easter, spokesman of the organization, Bishop Princely Ibeabuchi said, "Because of the deep spiritual significance of the one week event, themed Celebrating the Permanency and Sufficiency of Christ, the crowd of faithful and guests will double." In 2008, when they celebrated their Golden Jubilee, official statistics showed that about two million adherents marched through streets of Calabar, thereby blocking vehicular traffic for over six hours in the process.
Speaking about the Hidden Manna event and the expected crowd, the first son of the founder, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu who now takes full charge of the organization said, this year's celebration, tagged Hidden Manna will have transcendental effects on not only faithful but the country in particular.
"As you are aware, the day of the Lord is drawing nearer, prophecies are being fulfilled daily and at a faster pace than ever before. Be aware also that it does not matter anymore what you think or what you believe, because God's wrath and final judgment upon the face of the earth is inescapable. "The Hidden Manna is the all-important answer that portrays the Son of Man, Christ the Divine as the only source of true and dependable reason for human existence.
"As Nigerians strategize ahead of the 2015 poll, we hereby warn all those jostling for election and re-election in the country to seek God's face first or damn the consequences. There shall be growing mutual suspicion in the country if corrupt leaders do not quit. This is the era of the Holy Spirit and all those who do not want the children of God to enjoy the blessings the Creator has kept for us shall have themselves to blame," Obu warned.
Apart from the Brotherhood organization, other denominational churches have also slated their separate Easter conventions where thousands of their members are expected to troop into Calabar and other major towns in the state.
President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Cross River State chapter, Bishop Emma Isong who is the founder of Christian Central Chapel International said member-organisations of the PFN have realized the importance of Easter period. "All Christians know that they have to converge under their different church banners to mark this most important event," he said.
Led by Rt Rev Bishop Tunde Adeleye, the Anglican Church Calabar diocese staged a pre-Easter event where they pulled a very large crowd. Members and non-members went in processional motorcade, singing and spreading the joy of the Easter.
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