Calabar, Cross River State – Some acclaimed men of God on Sunday stormed the Good Shepherd Roundabout by Zone 6 Calabar, to pray for the fallen Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ) statue.
Converseer reports that the statue with some of the sheep were pulled down by a strong wind that accompanied a torrential rain which started on Saturday night and lasted till Sunday morning.
After the Police cleared and barricaded the roundabout, some men of God stormed the place to pray for the fallen statue.
The men of God, yet to be identified by us, in their prayers said no wind shall destroy it again.
In a viral video made available to the Converseer newsroom on Monday, one of the men of God in his prayer said, “… And no wind shall destroy it. No wind shall destroy it. In the name of Jesus, we lay our hands and decree that every stronghold coming by wind, by rain, by storm, by one form or the other to push it down, the heavens shall destroy. In the name of Jesus.
“And by the time this thing will be restored back, we lay it in a strong foundation. And Jesus is our strong foundation. And the statue is laid on a strong foundation. And Jesus Christ is a strong foundation.
“No other foundation will speak on this day. The foundations have been laid. This has been laid in a strong foundation.
“But because of this new season, we declare that this state is lying in a strong foundation. And Cross River State belongs to Jesus Christ. And Jesus is a strong foundation of the believing.
“By the time this statue of Christ is put back, He is back in a strong nation.
“According to the word of God, in the book of Matthew, chapter seven, from 24, he said, because we believe in Jesus and we sure we are wise that by the reason of this, no wind, no rain, no flood will be able to pull us down. Because we are laid on a strong foundation. Jesus is a solid rock. This is a solid rock. And so shall it be.”
Converseer reports that the Good Shepherd Statue received backlash from Cross Riverians when it was erected in May this year. The statue followed the erection of the Holy Bible at the Eleven-Eleven (11-11) Roundabout.
Many criticised Governor Otu’s decision to replace the Monoliths at the Zone 6 Roundabout with Jesus Christ’s statue, which even the Bible in Exodus 20:3-5, warned that, “(3) Thou shalt have no gods before me. (4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”
Below are some of the comments that greeted the erection of the statue:
“How do we relate to this instead of the images of our monoliths? This is not even the image of Jesus. No one on earth has the image of Jesus Christ. No one!” – Agba Jalingo
“This is so shameful and unoriginal.” – Marycollette Matiki
“It won’t be better for brainwashed pastors and those who brought this empty religion to Africa. This is the height of not just uninformed and counter-productive fanaticism but unjustifiable erasure of classical reminder that Africans told their own stories via different art forms, including the use of monoliths, nsibidi and another creative expression such as artefacts. This white status is a total disgrace and disservice to the long-standing heritage of the ancient city. May this status be disgraced through natural intervention.” – Richard Friday Inoyo
“White people will just be laughing at us, and will be saying in their mind, blacks will be their slaves forever.” – Steven Dominic
“In all you become in life, don’t become a woman wrapper as full flesh man.” – Genesis Nfam
“Welcome to the new Jerusalem. Cross River State must be freed from satanism in whatever form it was represented.” – Akam Victor
“It has no place in the past, present and future in the State. I can assure you, this status will be uprooted by an informed regime into the dustbin of history. Take solace in the fact that historical enlightenment will bring all emptiness to nothing.” – Richard Friday Inoyo
“Jesus the good shepherd roundabout. Another government will bring it down, they should keep wasting money. That is what we are known for.” Perpetual Okwe
“Now that the state is officially a God own state, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? The good shepherd.” – Happiness Esu
“When you have a pastor as a First Lady what do you expect. Very soon na 12 disciples we go see.” – Andrew Ayim
“Religious servitude & overzealousness; Insensitivity to other religions in the State. May this trend spread also to the Watt Market roundabout!” – Citizen Obhazi Ekponta
“Them go don cash out with this guy them paint keep here, any time Calabar man comes into power, they only think developing Calabar, why spending money on this same roundabout that already has beautiful monoliths, than taking this white guy to Ugep, Ikom, or Ogoja that also have roundabouts that needs government attention. There was a state!” – Edward Samuel
“Could this be what they were trying to replicate at Zone 6 Roundabout Calabar to replace the Nkarasi Monoliths? The Lost Sheep found by the Good Shepherd? So na Cross River State and Nigeria don turn “lost sheep” abi? Omo, this is an… Who’s ready for a ride, let’s go and see this for ourselves. I no wan share person picture. I wan take my hand snap the picture and talk my mind once and for all. tA…” – Tom Alims
“It is a disgrace that with all the educated people in calabar, a statue of Jesus holding a flag is the best they can do to replace the historical monolith. They can as well declare calabar the new Jerusalem since Jesus has been canceled in Israel.” – Basil Asibong
“In appreciation of this beautiful work of art in the form of a roundabout in Calabar, I now wish to be tentatively addressed as Comrade Aniel Ani Akak (C) and if you are correctly wondering what “CP” means, don’t wander too far for it means “CALABAR PILGRIM”. – Ani Akak
“The good Shepherd Roundabout. The Lord reign supreme in our City. Will it affect the price of Garri in Urua Watt?. Nah why I no go follow rich kids talk.” Archibong Efefiom
“Now, pensioners are supposed to look at the roundabout and like the woman who touched the hem of Jesus and got healed, the gratuity and pension will hit their accounts? Mtcheew Ukor Ikod.” – Jonathan Ugbal
“BEFORE and AFTER… It’s a mixed Grill… Mixed reactions. Monoliths depict the rich cultural heritage of the people of Cross River State, the creativity tells a STORY. It wasn’t demonic. While I appreciate the efforts of the present administration in repositioning the State, but let it be known that even if we place the Image of Our Lord Jesus from the City gate down to Anantigha and OUR LEADERS and THE PEOPLE refuse to do what is RIGHT, the State will still be stagnant. CHANGE BEGINS WITH US!!!!” – Umo Bassey
(WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW)