BY: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The European Union Election Observation Mission has maintained that the mandate given to them will not be compromised as they monitor the Nigeria’s general elections on February 25′, 2023 and March 11, 2023.
The team led by Robert Hall and Diana Ferrari made this disclosurewhen they called on His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, the spiritual leader of a renowned spiritual organisation, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) with International Headquarters in Calabar, Southern NigerIa.
He said “aside our mission mandate, it became imperative that we stopped over to see the spiritual leader because from our intelligence he had much positive influence over his mammoth followership in Nigeria and abroad.
Hall applauded the Spiritual Leader for sacrificial efforts at uniting families and communities across the world.
According to him, “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.”
Furthermore, “since we are to educate the electorate on the need to participate in the Nigeria’s general election by casting their votes, there was the need for us to visit the Leader of (BCS)”.
On the election, Hall said,”nothing can make us to violate our mandate or the oath taken not to be participants in the election.”
The Spiritual Leader while responding said “I am very happy over your visit and I will afford you the desired cooperation.
The forthcoming election is very important to Nigerians, the Spiritual Leader said, adding that i have no preferred presidential candidate.
“I had admonished my followers to freely exercise their franchise to whoever the spirit administers to them, he told the EU mission “.
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 borders 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 conducted round the expanding complex on a guided facility tour by a high priest of the fold, Justice Osai Ahiakwo before departing.
