There is a stream in an obscure village in Cross River State where people are flocking to for alleged ‘healing’ properties. What are the ties shared by the stream and a religious sect? What, really, goes on there?
Biakpan, in Cross River State, may no longer be classified as a hamlet due to the large influx of people, yet it still has the normal village setting with clustering of huts and modern dwelling apartments built side-by-side. This dusty community has one road that snakes through a thick forest from Ugbem and Etono communities, all in the same local government council.
Some five years ago Biakpan and its neighbouring communities, Etono (One and Two) were constantly at war over land and communal leadership until the state government made them to sign an undertaking, which status quo Weekly Trust was told still subsists.
Biakpan has become a small and lively upcoming town with increasing modern amenities. It can boast of a police outpost, a post office, a magistrate court, community general hospital and government primary school and Technical secondary schools and is now served by modern communication network giants. Many retail businesses and eateries are springing up. A local, Madam Joy Egwu Ogban, said they usually make huge profits whenever crowds of Obu’s faithful come periodically. “Our women and young people would set up emergency restaurants whenever it’s that time”, she said.
Amanze Uchechukwu, 30, is not a member of the Biakpan community but has rented two stores where he sells provisions, wines and textile materials. “My elder brother is a member of the sect; he comes here often and because he spoke much about Obu and the Biakpan water that has attracted huge number of people, I thought the place could be a thriving business place for me and I am not disappointed.”
It has become apparent these days that there can be no mention of Biakpan in any serious discourse without the regular mention of one man, Olumba Olumba Obu, the sole spiritual head of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. They wear long white garments that flow to the ankle, do not wear shoes and place their foreheads on the ground three times, stressing that this is the best way to commune with their.
Weekly Trust checks showed that Nigerians of varied background, learning and religion have found delight in visiting and bathing in this mysterious stream, with more from many countries in Africa, including nearby Cameroun, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa not only to take a dip in the brownish stream but have acquired land in the fast-developing community where they are erecting structures and businesses.
Mr. Monday James, popularly called ‘Monty’ now lives in Biakpan. He is originally from Oron in Akwa Ibom State. He used to live in Calabar but relocated to Biakpan many years ago where he is now running his type of business and raising his own family. In a chat, Monty said “I have seen countless number of visitors, including caucasians. Politicians, very rich people even church pastors from denominational churches as well as those from other religions come here too because they have heard much about and are witnessing the power from this Biakpan water.”
Immediate-past member of the House of Reps, Hon. Alexander Ukam who represented the Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency where Biakpan falls agrees that because of the huge traffic of visitors, including foreigners, the federal government has a plan to construct roads through Ohafia LGA in the East and a bridge across the Ugbem river that would make the community more accessible. Ukam said Leader Obu’s phenomenon has brought fame to that community, and that he himself has benefitted from the potency of the Biakpan water.
About the slow running, knee-deep stream, the land chief of Biakpan, Onun Onugu Mba Onugu said, “This stream mysteriously surrounds our village and came to being when the leader of this religious sect, our son, Olumba Olumba Obu was born in this village in about 1918. I am a crown witness to this fact.” But can it be true that with a mere plunge into what looks like a normal stream can completely heal anyone of an ailment? Or are people just out to take advantage of gullibility? No-one could readily offer an answer.
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