Tom Chiahemen
By Patrick Abang (CALABAR)
Ahead of the 2023 general election, the European Union Election Observation Mission led by the duo of Robert Hall and Diana Ferrari had arrived Cross River State capital with a pledged to lived up to their responsibilities.
The EU delegation said this when the team made a courtesy visit to His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star with International headquarters in Calabar, Southern Nigeria.
According to them, their mission was imperative that they stopped over to see the spiritual leader because from their intelligence he had much positive influence over his mammoth adherents in Nigeria and abroad.
Leader of the team, Robert Hall commended the spiritual leader for sacrificial efforts at uniting families and communities.
He said, “We are election observers on assignment to Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. We received good reports about the spiritual leader and his large followers and noted that BCS is an influential community with a very large congregation in Nigeria.
“Since we are to educate the electorate on the need to participate in the Nigeria general election by casting their votes, there was the need for us to visit the Leader of BCS.”
Speaking about being neutral during the election, Hall said: “Nothing can make us to violate our mandate or the oath taken not to be participants in the election.”
Responding, the spiritual leader said he was very happy over their visit and will afford them desired cooperation.
He said the forthcoming election was very important to Nigerians but that he has no preferred presidential candidate.
He told the EU delegation that He has admonished His adherents to freely exercise their franchise to whoever the Spirit administers to them.
His Holiness Obu sued for a smooth and peaceful conduct of the general election, stressing that it must be devoid of vote buying, rigging, violence and killings.
On EU request to know more about the organization, the spiritual leader said his mission and teachings border on love, forgiveness, peace and unity of all races.
He said that except in Russia, he has worship centres in several countries of the world.
He assured the EU Observers of their safety throughout their stay in Nigeria, adding that he will gladly receive them again since they promised to return to the organization in continuation of their election education.
The EU delegation was taken round the sprawling complex on a guided facility tour by a high priest of the fold, Justice Osai Ahiakwo before they departed.
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