BY: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
African Leaders have been called upon to come together under one umbrella so as to defeat the common enemies of the continent.
The call was made by former Director of Kenya’s Anti- Corruption Commission, Prof. Patrick Lumumba while speaking at the 2nd Edition of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu Annual Lecture with the theme: “Reflecting on the Unique Treasures in Africa”, in Calabar, Nigeria.
According to him, “the unity of the continent was a great tool to be used in defeating perpetrators of all sorts of evil, poverty and all vices responsible for backwardness of the continent”.
Lumumba who was represented by the Consul-General of Antigua and Hermuda Republic in Nigeria, Ambassador Dr Wallance Williams, advocated for the unity of Africa if the continent is ready to witness a tremendous turn around.
“Today, we are meeting at a time where the desire of the people of Africa is to reach new frontiers of socio-economic emancipation, political stability and spiritual equilibrium.These times, while pregnant with hope, are also attended by monumental challenges. We have everything before us, yet we have nothing before us”.
According to him, “Africa is afflicted with various problems; poverty, disease, political instability, scriptural confusion, our continent has always had great promise, attracted all civilizations. Everybody is looking for a piece of Africa, we now need to get together under one spirituality and defeat the enemies of Africa. Although Africa is at a crossroads, she knows what she wants and we are capable of actualising what we desire”
He described Leader Olumba Obu as a leader who knew how to embrace God. With him and the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, (BCS), Africa will get to its zenith.
Lumumba said “the life of Leader Obu makes him an exemplar of how one can and should embrace God in a manner that is regular and experiential. Great men like him serve to remind us that with dedication, the human being is capable of achieving so much. Africa is in a renaissance right now, and with Leader Olumba Obu and the BCS, Africa will get to its developmental peak”.
In her welcome remarks, the lecture chairperson, Emilia Portia Anthony, described Leader Obu as a “supernatural leader” who has come to unify and transform humanity
African continent, she said, “is a citadel of knowledge, which had been oppressed and subjugated over decades now”.
However, she expressed the hope that the teachings of Leader Obu, if rigorously followed, will help in reversing the ugly trend for good of humanity
Also Speaking, Prof.OtoAbasi Akpan, Akwa Ibom State University, noted that the continent is yet to acquire its treasure, perhaps because the right scarifies were yet to be made.
He said, “the people are not ready to engage in sacrifice, and none is ready to harness it for development. Africa can cure itself if it takes direction from the gospel of the Father, sacrifice is the key to the development of Africa”.
Earlier, the BCS spokesman, Christ Shepherd Edet Archibong, gave a synopsis of the lecture which among others were to draw the world’s attention to the teaching of God as personified in His Holiness, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu.
