Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (also known by the name of its founder, Olumba Olumba Obu) has formally reacted to the News Express story of Nov. 28 in which one of the churches spokesmen quoted Olumba as renouncing his claim to godship.

The church reacted yesterday in a Press Release signed by its Media Consultant, Walter Duru, entitled “Re-Olumba Olumba Obu no Longer God.” Here is the statement, unedited:

‘Our attention has been drawn to a publication by an online newspaper – the News Express, captioned, “Olumba Olumba Obu no longer God,” quoting one Pastor Solomon Minta as the source.

‘The report is not only mischievous, but born out of malice waxed in destructive swaggeo. It is also lacking in facts and absolutely baseless.

‘News Express is owned and published by Lovina Amangala Iburene of ‘the Truth Ministry, Lagos, a religious bigot whose way of appreciating the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star for delivering and healing her is through blackmail. That leaves no one in doubt on her mission, as well as that of her publication.

‘The report quoted one Pastor Minta, a United States-based Ghanaighian as the spokesman of the Fold. For clarity sake, Pastor Minta IS NOT the Spokesman of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. The Fold has a functional Public Relations and Media Department within the Leader’s Office at the world headquarters, Calabar, that attends to the media and the general public.

‘The recent publication was a rehash of some of the false accusations adopted by enemies of truth, religious fanatics and workers of darkness who have over the years battled to pull down the Divine Kingdom through blackmail and propaganda.

‘They also claimed that Leader Obu went blind, and now dead. This is laughable. The Holy Father, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu is alive, hale and hearty. He is seen by all daily. Obviously, the blackmailers are not in this world.

‘They are only acting an already written script. Lovina and Enoch Iburene are being used by some faceless malcontents for cheap publicity.

‘For those interested in knowing the truth, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is a Divine Spiritual School of Practical Christianity, established by God Himself. It has one Universal Leader, Master, Teacher and Sustainer, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu. His First Begotten Son, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu is the Chairman, Head of Administration and Sole signatory of the Kingdom.

‘Its teachings are centered on love, and love conquers all things. Agents of darkness are fighting with every available arsenal to pull it down. Unfortunately for them, it is a Kingdom that has come to dwell forever, as darkness can never overcome light.

‘Once again, we are inclined to register our disgust with the shameful attitude and “pull them- down- syndrome” of some news media. It is unfortunate that the media practice has become an all-comers’ affair. The online media have in recent times become willing tools for blackmail; peddling false, unconfirmed, malicious and blasphemous reports.

‘No efforts were made to contact the leadership of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star for comments; at least, for the sake of balance and accuracy.

‘We implore the Nigerian Mass Media practitioners to embrace the ethics of the noble profession of Journalism and operate within the precincts of accuracy, objectivity, patriotism and national development.

‘Despite Iburene and other such distractions, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star shall continue to grow from strength to strength. But, we must always remember that there is a reward for every action of man.

‘Lovina Iburene and her cohorts are hereby advised to go and practice love, as that is the key to salvation. Anything in the contrary is Anti-Christ.’

Reacting to the Press Release, News Express Publisher, Mr. Isaac Umunna, described it as a cocktail of lies aimed to deceive gullible people.

“The claim that ‘News Express is owned and published by Lovina Amangala Iburene of the Truth Ministry, Lagos’ is ridiculous and exposes the BCS as a congregation of liars. The truth is that Evangelist Iburene does not even know the office of News Express, not to talk of being the owner. The owners of News Express are clearly identified on the paper’s website as we are reputable professionals who have nothing to hide,” Umunna said.

He defended the paper’s story, pointing out that, “as was clearly indicated in the story, Pastor Solomon Minta of the USA Media Office, Dallas Texas, quoted from a book by Olumba himself in which the man expressly renounced his claim to godship. Pastor Minta cannot claim to have been misquoted because he used his own hand to write, ‘Pastor Lovina had read from the (I presume), I AM NOT GOD BUT LEADER OLUMBA OLUMBA OBU. Let me quote from the book for the world to know: you people go out there and say Olumba Olumba Obu is, how can a human being be God, that’s why nobody is coming to Brotherhood (end of quote).’ The simple meaning of these words is that Olumba admitted being a mere human and not God.”

•Photo: Olumba Olumba Obu.

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