The Akwa Ibom State Gov
ernor, Udom Emmanuel and Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, John Okon, have hailed the spiritual leader of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Olumba Olumba Obu, for promoting Bishop James Crawford Ellebe, an American citizen who has been his die-hard faithful since 1977, as one of the two new arch-bishops in his spiritual organisation.
The other is Arch-bishop Bassey Imowo, a long time priest and oil magnate.
Our correspondent reports that the occasion was the formal consecration of 214 new bishops promoted from across the ranks in the fold at the organisation’s headquarters in Calabar, capital of Cross River State.
Governor Emmanuel, who was represented by the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, commended Olumba Olumba Obu for displaying faith and consistency in carrying out humanitarian services and ceaselessly teaching spiritual ideals of love for one another, truth, humility and forgiveness.
Both Emmanuel and Okon prayed that these virtues were seriously needed in Nigeria to actually bring about change and development.
Members of Cross River State House of Assembly, who came to honour one of theirs who was also made a bishop, Chris Agbor, also commended Obu for the feat, saying it was historic to consecrate such huge number of bishops at one go.
According to them, the group has been able to bolster the state’s tourism drive as it continually attracts tremendous number of members from many countries to the cities of Biakpan and Calabar for pilgrimage.
Exhorting the newly ordained bishops, Obu stressed that they necessarily pursue things of God and encourage others through their lifestyle and speeches to equally be truthful, forgiving, faithful, and help the less privileged all their lives.
He urged political, religious and other leaders to be truthful and accountable to their people always, explaining that those consecrated were divinely selected from across all branches of the fold irrespective of age or status in many nations for evangelical purposes.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
