In a viral video IVNTVNEWS sighted online in Saturday, angry worshippers of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, in a particular branch in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, were seen in a riotous mood.
A male member in a white cassock, was seen yanking off Rowland’s portrait from the wall and smashing it on the floor amid cheers from worshippers.
Rowland’s portrait was hung near Olumba’s, but the angry worshippers did not attack the latter.
A voice was heard shouting in the background of the video as the man in a white cassock smashed the glass frame on the ground. It was saying “Bring it down!, this is the man we have been worshiping.”
It is not, however, no clear when the incident happened, as the voice did not state the date of the incident.
Report by PREMIUM TIMES stated that the sect’s spokesperson, Amah Williams, noted the incident happened in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. At the sect’s Nsikak Edouk Avenue branch.
Recall that the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, has been emmeshed in a prolonged succession crisis. This is following the death of the founder of the Church, Olumba Obu.
Two offspring’s of the late founder; Rowland and Ibum, are claiming the leadership of the 68-year-old sect. A development that had caused polarization of members into factions.
The once united religious organization with headquarter in the Biakpan Community in Cross River State, is now crisis ridden.
Speaking on the incident, Williams, told newsmen on Saturday that those that carried out the act belonged to a breakaway faction. “They are called Brotherhood of the Cross and Star New Kingdom Ministry,” he said.
William described them as rebels who do not want to accept Rowland’s leadership. Though he did not call Rowland by name as Olumba’s successor. This is because he is revered among worshippers. They reverenced him as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu”.
He said, “They are rebels. They rebelled; they rejected the rulership of the Kingdom of Christ.”
“The holy image of our father is what we hold sacred,” William said. He was apparently referring to the destruction of Rowland’s portrait.
Responding to a reporter’s question on the place of Jesus Christ in the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, William said, “That same (Jesus) Christ is the one that came with the new name Olumba Olumba Obu.”
“If Olumba were to be a white man, black men would have gone to worship on his feet,” he said.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that the over 1 million global members of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star do not see themselves as a church. But as the new Kingdom of God on Earth. They have also refused to admit that their founder had passed away. This is even as the sect has not announced his passing or publicly conducted his burial.
source: Premium Times
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