In 2001, Olumba Olumba Obu was already too old, weak and frail.
Some members of his congregation were smartly scheming what would happen and who would succeed him when he passes on.
His son, Roland, was not seen as a suitable candidate to mount the throne because of his lifestyle.
His daughter, Ibum, led another faction to lead the BCS.
On the 10th of June 2001, the matter reached a climax when Ibum, her brother, her husband, five bishops and 115 others were fired from the BCS and a newspaper announcement was made to back it up.
The battle of succession was quite messy with the court having to mediate in the dispute.
Ibum married a man from Akwa Ibom State, and Olumba had initially handed over the administration of the BCS to her making her the General-Secretary, to the chagrin of some other members.
The decision led to a split to the Akwa Ibom and Cross River factions.
It was said that Olumba himself had predicted that the split will give rise to the true BCS.
Although many of his members deny this and say that ‘Olumba has gone to sleep’, it is widely believed that Olumba Olumba Obu passed on sometimes in 2003 or after.
As at 2009, he was no longer seen in public and many claimed that he had gone blind.
His supposed death and what happened to his remains thereafter still remains a great mystery and carefully-shrouded secret.
Later, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu took over as the new leader of the BCS and is in that position till date.
From what started as a small prayer team in the 1960s, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is now a colossus with well over one million members from various parts of the globe, holding on to the teachings of the wizened old man from Biakpan.
Silently but steadily, the BCS has been gaining ground and its membership rank keeps swelling.
Today, there are units of the BCS that deals with hospitality, publishing, catering, tailoring and even intercontinental business.
Some aristocrats in the Cross River society are also members of BCS and this has greatly assisted in boosting the profile of the organization.
Since 1980, teams from the BCS have been visiting the United States, United Kingdom, Guinea Bissau, Trinidad and Tobago, Gabon, Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, Senegal, Germany, India, Russia and other parts of the globe and impressive success they have recorded in spreading their message, constructing bethels and gaining new converts like our dear family friend.
While he was alive, OOO paid serious attention to the welfare of his subjects, building shelter for the unemployed and destitute in addition to providing a center for the handicapped and giving out vast sums to charitable efforts.
Today, the BCS still continues the tradition. No doubt, no one knows what lies in future for the Brotherhood but so far, they have carried their cross calmly, and whether.
NOTED FACTS
His son named Rowland, who is also called Olumba Olumba Obu took over in 2000.
Reportedly, he is also known as “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords.”
Unlike mainstream Christianity, this organization believes that Olumba Olumba Obu is the Holy Spirit.
However, Obu has said, “I am not Jesus Christ or God.”
The group takes love towards other men, reincarnation, vegetarianism, and veganism seriously.
They also believe in God and Jesus whose achievements are believed to be inferior to Obu’s role, which is to complete the work left unfinished by Jesus.
Medicine is a big no-no as the BCS website writes that “BCS do not believe in medicine of any form”.
According to the website, “BCS’ concept of ‘brotherhood’ is much broader than that of most religions, as it encompasses not only human beings, but also all members of the animal kingdom.
It seeks to put into practice the idea of Reverence for Life that is to be found in some of the great faiths of the East.”
The organization has faced a lot of scandals.
Over the years, there have been claims for miracles, violence within the Brotherhood and speculation that the founder may have died in December 2003.
The group has gone beyond Cross River state. The website says that there are “over a million followers in Africa.”
Members can also be found in the United Kingdom and London.
THE END
Sources : https://www.pulse.ng and site.onlinenigeria.com
